Kim Hyeon

Hyeon Kim, Ph.D.

Professor Emeritus, The Academy of Korean Studies (AKS) A pivotal pioneer in the development of Digital Humanities in Korea, renowned for integrating traditional Korean studies with Information and Communications Technology (ICT).

SUMMARY OF EXPERTISE

Dr. Kim is an esteemed scholar who successfully bridged the divide between traditional humanities (specifically Classical Korean Studies) and cutting-edge information technology.

His career is characterized by foundational contributions to Korean Digital Humanities (DH), including the development of the first major Korean historical database and the establishment of the nation’s first DH degree program.

He defines Digital Humanities as “practical efforts to explore and apply humanistic knowledge in a digital environment.”

Key Contribution

Spearheaded the development of the “The Annals of the Joseon Dynasty Database” (조선왕조실록 데이터베이스) in 1995, marking the inception of digital humanities research and the popularization of humanistic knowledge in Korea.

Current Research Focus

Leading research and development on Vertical AI (Public Education Specialized AI) based on a massive humanistic knowledge ontology, utilizing the ‘Encyclopedic Archive’ curation model.

Educational Innovation

Established Korea’s first graduate program in Cultural Informatics (인문정보학) at AKS in 2008.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

2024. 09 – Present

Professor Emeritus, The Academy of Korean Studies (AKS) / President, Research Association for Traditional Culture Continues to serve as a leading advisor and visionary for national-level DH projects and traditional culture digital-transformation efforts.

2018. 05.

Founder, The Center for Digital Humanities, AKS (Research Fellow, previously Director) Established and led the foremost institution for systematizing and advancing DH research in Korean Studies. Conducted key R&D based on the ‘Encyclopedic Archive’ curation model, including projects like the “Encyclopedic Archive of Documentary Cultural Heritage” (기록문화유산의 백과사전적 아카이브) and the “Hanyang Time Machine Semantic Data Archive” (한양도성 타임머신 시맨틱 데이터 아카이브).

2015. 05.

Founder, The Korean Association for Digital Humanities (KADH) (Advisor, previously President) Founded and led the primary association promoting collaboration and academic exchange among DH scholars and experts in Korea, significantly boosting DH activities nationwide.

2008. 09.

Founder, Graduate Program in Cultural Informatics, AKS Established Korea’s first graduate-level program dedicated to training experts capable of integrating humanistic knowledge and information technology.

2004. 03.

Professor of Cultural Informatics, Graduate School of Korean Studies, AKS Appointed to AKS; established the model for compiling digital archives of Korean classical literature.

1999. 06. – 2004. 02.

Principal Researcher, Head of Information System Dept., Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information (KISTI) Developed an XML data-based information retrieval engine and distributed it to humanities institutions, significantly accelerating the establishment of academic data archives in the humanities sector.

1992. 09. – 1999. 05.

Director, Korean Studies Database Institute, Seoul System Co., Ltd. Pioneered the digitalization of humanities materials, most notably leading the development of the “The Annals of the Joseon Dynasty Database CD-ROM,” demonstrating the potential for humanities education and research in a digital environment.

1985. 12. – 1992. 03.

Senior Researcher, Head of New Media Information System Lab, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) Gained essential experience in information systems and new media technology, which served as the foundational basis for his later work integrating technology with humanities research.

EDUCATION

· 1992. 08. Ph.D. in Philosophy, Korea University o Research on Joseon Dynasty Neo-Confucianism (조선시대 성리학 연구) · 1984. 02. M.A. in Philosophy, The Academy of Korean Studies · 1982. 02. B.A. in Philosophy, Korea University

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

Books

2016. 05. Introduction to Digital Humanities (디지털 인문학 입문), HUEBOOKs.
2012. 12. Cultural Informatics (인문정보학의 모색), Book Korea.
1995. 07. Yim Seong-ju's Philosophy of Vital Force (임성주의 生意哲學), Hangilsa.

Articles

2024. 05. “Digital Curation: Digital Humanities Education for the Future Generation” (디지털 큐레이션: 미래 세대를 위한 디지털 인문학 교육), Digital Humanities 1.
2023. 03. “From Digitalization to Digital Transformation in the World of Classical East Asian Studies,” International Academic Conference “Tools of the Trade: The Way Forward,” Harvard University, USA.
2022. 12. “The Hanyang Time Machine: Encountering Korean Traditional Culture in the Digital World” (汉阳都城时光机:在数字世界遇见韩国传统文化), International Academic Conference on Multilingual and Multicultural Communication under Globalization, Sichuan Culture and Arts University, China.
2018. 09. “Practical Methods for Digital Humanities Education” (디지털 인문학 교육의 현장),

Humanities Contents 50.

2013. 06. “Digital Humanities: Cooperative Scheme between Humanities and Cultural Contents” (디지털 인문학–인문학과 문화콘텐츠의 상생 구도에 관한 구상–), Humanities Contents 29.
2004. 12. “Information Compilation Technology for the Development of Electronic Cultural Maps” (電子文化地圖開發のたぬの情報編纂技術), The 2nd International Academic Conference of Historical Materials Compilation Agencies in East Asia, The Historiographical Institute, The University of Tokyo, Japan.
2001. 12. “Conception on Cultural Informatics” (인문정보학에 관한 구상), Minjok Munhwa Yeongu (The Journal of Korean Cultural Studies) 35.
1995. 12. “Digitalization Korean Classical Chinese Text: Achievements and Challenges” (韓國古典籍전산화의 성과와 과제), Minjok Munhwa (The Journal of Korean Classics) 18.
1988. 02. “The Concept and Challenges of Computerization in East Asian Studies” (東洋學資料電算化의 構想과 課題), Minjok Munhwa Yeongu (The Journal of Korean Cultural Studies) 21.