Abstract

This paper examines the life and academic trajectory of Lee Wan-beom, a political scientist at the Academy of Korean Studies. Drawing on interviews and applying oral history methods, it identifies the key moments that shaped his intellectual development and scholarly career, touching on concepts such as dimensions, turnings, and adaptations. The interviews reveal that Lee’s academic interests and research were consistently influenced by his family history and the broader historical context of his time. His parents moved south after the liberation of Korea in pursuit of a liberal society, and their experiences of migration and settlement played a significant role in shaping his academic interest in the issue of trusteeship on the Korean Peninsula. In the 1980s, he devoted himself to studying the social sciences rather than participating in student movements against the newly emerging military regime. This decision led him to encounter books and colleagues who profoundly influenced his life and academic trajectory. This paper argues that Lee Wan-beom, both as a political scientist and individual, was shaped by the transformations and challenges of his historical era. It also serves as a guide for understanding the intellectual foundations and development of his scholarship.