Recent developments and debates in Korean prehistoric archaeology

The aim of this article is to examine the developments and debates that have taken place in Korean prehistoric archaeology since the 1990s. In order to do this, this article first examines the trends and developments of archaeological research by period, after which the directions and trends observed throughout all periods of Korean prehistoric archaeology are synthesized. This survey emphasizes that research has begun to go beyond the traditional topics of Korean prehistoric archaeology, such as chronology, typology, and the genealogy of types, toward a diversification of subjects and the deepening of research methodology. Additionally, other trends are documented, such as the development of a holistic research perspective, the popularity of scientific analysis and experimental archaeology, a growing interest in the regions surrounding the Korean Peninsula, a greater awareness of foreign archaeological research, and the deepening of cultural analysis at a regional scale.