Yi Pyong-do

Yi Pyong-do (1896, Yongin – 1989) was a Korean historian. He is often associated with the Japanese colonial view of Korean history.

• 1927: Started working in Korean History Compilation Committee
• 1934: Founding Jindan Institute
• 1945 - 1962: Professor of Seoul Nation University
• 1955 - 1982: Committee of Korean Nation History Editor
• 1960: Ministry of Education

Although he is often associated with the Japanese colonial view of Korean history, he contribute an editorial to Joseon Ilbo about the Korean history in 1986, 3 years before he died. Some people say that this editorial was the voice of his conscience.

His contribution to Joseon Ilbo says:

1. Dangun is not legend but a Korean ancestor. The sacrifice to Dangun was stopped from the Japanese colonial age. Moreover, he said that one must believe the entire ancient Korean history books before three kingdoms of Korea.
2. In Kuksadaegwan(국사대관), written in 1956, and history textbooks he wrote, he accepted that Dangul had been real.
3. The current Seonangdang is the ancient Sindansu (신단수, 神壇樹), and a heap of stones is Sindan(신단, 神壇). So, the village around the Sindan is the Sinsi (신시, 神市).
4. Pyongyang in Samguk Sagi is different place from the current Pyongyang.

Finally he published the history book titled "Introduction to ancient Korean history", which describes that Dangun and Gojoseon are not legend, and Nangnang Nation is different from Nangnang commandery. When he published the book, his disciples said it was the senility of an old man.

• Lee Ki-baik, a disciple of Yi Pyong-do, is famous for his history book "The New History of Korea", but his books are also criticized as the extension of colonial policy of Japan.
• Ko Byeongik, Cha Hasun and Yi Kidong are also known as his disciples.

However, many of them, who criticize him, were also blamed for working for Japan Imperialism, during its domination over Korea (1910~1945). In addition, most of their research output are not academically worthy, but creature of their pseudohistorical delusion, which is not different from that of some Asian countries, such as Japan, India, and so on.