As part of our ongoing efforts to shed light on lesser-known aspects of Cold War history, we are pleased to announce the initiation of a research project that aims to investigate the multifaceted ties between Czechoslovakia (CSSR) and the Korean Peninsula during the Cold War era. The relationship between these two regions, which includes diplomatic relations, economic cooperation, technology transfer, and cultural exchanges, has remained largely unexplored in international academia.
The interaction between Czechoslovakia and Korea can be traced back to the period following World War II. During this time, ethnic Koreans started teaching the Korean language at the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences, and a Korean studies department was established at Charles University in Prague by 1950. Czechoslovakia played a crucial role in the reconstruction of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) during and after the Korean War, actively participating in the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission (NNSC) and the Czechoslovak military mission to Korea (1952-1956). Furthermore, the CSSR operated the Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (MASH) in Cheongjin, further cementing their connection.
Our project seeks to create a small research team focusing on three main subjects: political history and diplomatic exchange, CSSR’s aid to the DPRK (NNSC, MASH), and cultural exchange (literature and translations). The research team will work on collecting primary sources, archiving them, and creating an internal database for future reference.
In September 2023, we plan to organize a workshop to provide a platform for scholars to share and evaluate ongoing research and discuss potential long-term projects connecting the team globally. The workshop will also serve as an opportunity to invite guests who focus on relations between other European socialist countries and the Korean Peninsula.
The culmination of this collaborative research will result in the publication of three case studies. These studies will explore Czechoslovakia’s role as a transnational hub for Latin Americans travelling to North Korea, historical documents related to the NNSC and the MASH in Cheongjin, and the influence of translated literature and publications with Korean themes by domestic or non-Korean authors.
This research project presents an opportunity to delve deeper into the historical connections between Czechoslovakia and the Korean Peninsula during the Cold War. Stay tuned to our academic blog for updates on the progress of this research project.