Population changes in the Central Region during the Proto Three Kingdoms Period to the Baekje Hanseong Period in Korea

This study examines the population changes in the central region during the Proto-Three Kingdoms Period to the Hanseong Period of Baekje, analyzing the background and impact of these changes. This period marks Baekje's emergence as an ancient state. Population during this stage is a critical variable directly connected to political, military, and economic factors, frequently cited as a major cause of social changes at the time. However, the results of population change studies for this period vary depending on the archaeological data used, and the gap in these perspectives has not been bridged. Therefore, this study reviewed population changes using summed probability distribution and the number of pit house, comparing the results from each method. The findings indicate that in the central region during the Proto-Three Kingdoms Period to the Hanseong Period of Baekje, the population increased after the turn of the century, peaked around the 3rd to 4th centuries, started to decrease around AD 250, and continued to decline from the 5th century onward. Furthermore, the population changes were examined in conjunction with the social context of the time. The study suggests that the population growth in the central region during the Proto-Three Kingdoms Period to the Hanseong Period of Baekje likely resulted from political and social backgrounds and was part of a virtuous cycle involving various social variables. Additionally, the population decline was found to be due to the collapse of population growth mechanisms influenced by external factors such as prolonged conflicts with Goguryeo and internal factors such as population pressure.