The Significance of Visual Sources in Studying the Women’s History of Korea (Late 19th – Early 20th Century)

Abstract

Visual sources play a significant role in studying the history of women who lived in Korea in the late 19th to early 20th centuries. Unlike other traditional materials, visual sources are important because they vividly depict the history of Korean women and provide researchers with a broader perspective. Based on various types of visual sources from this period, such as photographs, videos, artistic, and documentary films, they allow for a more precise exploration of various aspects of the social, economic, political, and cultural life of women during this period.

This article provides a brief examination of the socio-political changes that took place in the lives of Korean women in the late 19th to early 20th centuries during the final period of the Joseon Dynasty, partly based on visual sources, particularly photographs.