"To Preserve the Spirit of Korea despite the Disintegration of Its Form": Pak Ŭnsik and Hankuk T'ongsa (A Painful History of Korea) as a Beacon of Historical Nationalism.

The article focuses on the work of Korean historian Pak Ŭnsik, particularly his magnum opus, *Hankuk T'ongsa* (A Painful History of Korea), which critiques Japan's colonization of Korea and emphasizes the importance of preserving Korean national spirit through historical documentation. Pak expresses disappointment in his inability to cover the entirety of Korea's history but remains committed to recording the events leading to colonization, viewing history as a means to foster national resilience and independence. The article highlights the lack of attention Pak has received in English-language scholarship compared to the extensive Korean literature on his contributions, and it argues that his work serves as a critical assessment of both internal and external factors that facilitated Japan's annexation of Korea, ultimately portraying colonization as an illegal act rooted in the failures of Korean political factions and collaborators. [Extracted from the article]