# Kyung Durk Har A.B. (1925), A.M. (1927), Ph.D. (1928) ![har](/sites/g/files/omnuum10901/files/styles/hwp_4_5__480x600/public/koreanalumnibiographiesproject/files/screenshot_2024-01-23_at_11.40.08_am_1_0.png?itok=PySDEkxb) *Courtesy of Hei Jong Lim.* Kyung Durk (K.D.) Har (Ha Kyŏng-dŏk, 하경덕 河敬德, 1897–1951) was a sociologist, publisher, and public intellectual. Kyung Durk Har was born on July 25, 1897 in Iksan, Chŏlla Province, in the present-day South Korea. The eldest of three boys and three girls, his father, Ha Kyŏng-nyŏl, worked at a local school teaching the classics before becoming a teacher of literary Sinitic at Sinhŭng School (Sinhŭng Hakkyo), a missionary school in Chŏnju, Chŏlla Province. At this time the entire family converted to Christianity.[\[1\]](#fn1) Har graduated from Sinhŭng School in 1913 and Sungsil Middle School (Sungsil Hakkyo) in Pyongyang in 1915. Afterward he studied English at the YMCA. Har departed Korea for San Francisco in 1916, briefly stopping over in Shanghai where he joined the Mutual Assistance Society (Tongjesa), an independence activist organization. After some study at primary and middle school in the US in 1917, Har applied for University of California, Berkeley, but ended up studying at Berkeley High School for one year from 1918 to 1919.[\[2\]](#fn2) In 1921, Har entered Harvard University’s undergraduate program, primarily studying history. At the time, he was Harvard’s only Korean undergrad. He completed his undergraduate thesis, “The Militant Politics in Ireland from the Sinn Fein Terror in 1920 to the Presentation of the Treaty of London to Dail Eireann in 1921,” in 1925.[\[3\]](#fn3) ![Har's entry in the Harvard College yearbook](/sites/g/files/omnuum10901/files/styles/hwp_1_1__720x720_scale/public/koreanalumnibiographiesproject/files/ha_yearbook_cropped.jpg?itok=IZjm_tqW) Har's entry in the Harvard College yearbook. Note that his birthdate here is listed according to the lunar calendar (June 26). Also note that his given name is “Kyung-Duck” rather than “Kyung Durk,” which was used in his publications and other Harvard records. Courtesy of Harvard University Archives, HUD 325.04 (Page 200). Upon graduation from the college in 1925, Har immediately entered the graduate program in social ethics at Harvard as a “Robert Treat Paine Fellow,” earning his MA degree in 1927 and his PhD in 1928. He studied under Richard C. Cabot, James Ford, and Ralph M. Eaton. Cabot in particular was a major influence on him. During this time he also became friends with Gordon W. Allport, a prominent psychologist who studied and worked at Harvard.[\[4\]](#fn4) Originally, Har intended to write about the results of vocational training in Korea, suggesting that despite the best efforts of educating Koreans, Japanese discrimination prevented those who received Western education from putting it into practice. He even requested support to travel abroad to the peninsula to study these problems.[\[5\]](#fn5) His plan appears to have come to naught, as his final PhD dissertation is on a completely different topic, entitled “A Digest, Classification and Critical Examination of One Hundred Thirty-six Social Laws, as Enunciated by Forty-one Social Scientists, European and American.”[\[6\]](#fn6) His dissertation was published in 1930 under the title *Social Laws: a Study of the Validity of Sociological Generalizations* by the University of North Carolina Press, with an effusive preface by his mentor Cabot.[\[7\]](#fn7) Allegedly this book was used as a textbook at Tokyo Imperial University for a number of years before it became known that the author was a Korean, upon which the use of Har’s work was discontinued.[\[8\]](#fn8) ![Evaluations of Ha by his supervisors](/sites/g/files/omnuum10901/files/styles/hwp_1_1__720x720_scale/public/koreanalumnibiographiesproject/files/has_evaluations.png?itok=N0TVGSOK) Evaluations of Har by his supervisors. Courtesy of Harvard University Archives After graduation, Har lectured at Radcliffe College before departing for Korea in 1929. His return, noted in the *Tong-A Ilbo* (*East Asia Daily*), was motivated by the increasing push of the economic circumstances of depression-era America, and the increasing pull of his family and people in Korea.[\[9\]](#fn9) Upon his return, Har worked in the YMCA for a while, after which he became professor of sociology at Yonsei University, then Yŏnhŭi College (Yŏnhŭi Chŏnmun Hakkyo), in 1931.[\[10\]](#fn10) Har lectured on sociology even though at that time Yŏnhŭi did not offer a major in that subject. In 1942, the Japanese Government General of Korea condemned sociology as a subject that taught socialism and banned it, forcing Har to teach English. In 1943, Har was forced to retire from teaching completely, likely due to a combination of his having received his education from Japan’s wartime enemy, America, having majored in sociology, or else his participation in the activities of the Corps for the Advancement of Individuals (Hŭngsadan), a pro-independence organization.[\[11\]](#fn11) His involvement with the Corps for the Advancement of Individuals had previously led the colonial police to arrest him along with scores of others in 1937 during the so-called Friends of Cultivation Incident (Suyang Tonguhoe *sagŏn*). While his indictment was suspended, he was unable to teach for a year.[\[12\]](#fn12) Har from early on harbored criticism of Japanese control in Korea, for instance questioning the efficacy of Japanese policy towards Koreans—in the proposal for his original dissertation topic—and stating in an early letter that he was “born in an enslaved nation… pursued in everywhere by the cruel Japanese agents.”[\[13\]](#fn13) Har would have carried such sentiments with him when returning to Korea, a fact that would not have endeared him to the Japanese authorities. Upon the liberation of Korea from Japan, Har did not re-enter academia. Instead he launched a newspaper company and published the *Korea Times* (no relation to the current *Korea Times* newspaper in Korea). The September 5, 1945 issue boldly proclaimed in English: “Welcome, Heroes of Liberation!” to welcome the incoming American forces. As many of his staff were recruited by the American Military Government in Korea, the newspaper came to be published on an irregular basis, and eventually suspended publication.[\[14\]](#fn14) Har also worked as the vice-president of the *Seoul Newspaper* (*Sŏul Sinmun*), eventually becoming president, and published *New Heaven and Earth* (*Sinch’ŏnji*), a monthly magazine.[\[15\]](#fn15) Har was highly regarded by the American Military Government thanks to his education at Harvard. While Har never held a formal position in government, he was elected as a lawmaker for the provisional government in December 1946. Har also served on a number of different committees: as president of the Korea-America Cultural Association and the Korean Soccer Association, and as director of the International Cultural Institution.[\[16\]](#fn16) In the beginning of 1946, he participated in the Asian Relations Conference in New Delhi, India.[\[17\]](#fn17) Upon the establishment of the ROK in August 1948, and Syngman Rhee becoming the president, Har resigned from all official positions, likely because he had been active in the Corps for the Advancement of Individuals, the leader of which had been at odds with Rhee from the early days of the independence movement. Har’s *Seoul Newspaper* took up a critical position vis-à-vis Rhee, and by May 1949 it had been forced to suspend publication, and Har resigned from his position at the *Seoul Newspaper* in June.[\[18\]](#fn18) During the Korean War, Har was unable to flee Seoul and was captured by the North Korean army, after which he had to face great hardship in prison during the North Korean occupation of Seoul. When Seoul was liberated in September 1950, he was appointed a specially commissioned advisor to the Supreme Command for the Allied Powers in Japan and was brought to Tokyo. On April 5, 1951, he passed away in Tokyo due to a lingering illness he contracted during the war.[\[19\]](#fn19) Written by Graeme Reynolds, 8/19/2021 --- ### **Endnotes** [\[1\]](#p1)Wŏn Chae-yŏn, “Andang Ha Kyŏng-dŏk,” *Han'guk sahoehak* 50.2 (2016): 73; An Kye-ch’un, “Uri nara sahoehak ŭi sŏn’guja Ha Kyŏng-dŏk,” \[Korea's Pioneer in Sociology, Ha Kyŏng-dŏk\], *Inmun kwahak* 30 (1973): 189; Yi Ch’i-baek, “Habŏdŭ ch’ŏt Han’gugin paksa Ha Kyŏng-dŏk,” \[The First Korean Harvard PhD Ha Kyŏng-dŏk\], *Sae chŏnbuk sinmun*, June 24, 2010. [http://www.sjbnews.com/news/news.php?code=li\_news\_2010&number=410602. ](http://www.sjbnews.com/news/news.php?code=li_news_2010&number=410602) [\[2\]](#p2) An Kye-ch’un, “Uri nara sahoehak ŭi sŏn’guja Ha Kyŏng-dŏk,” 189; Wŏn Chae-yŏn, “Andang Ha Kyŏng-dŏk,” 73, 75. [\[3\]](#p3) Wŏn Chae-yŏn, “Andang Ha Kyŏng-dŏk,” 76; Kyung Durk Har, “The Militant Politics in Ireland from the Sinn Fein Terror in 1920 to the Presentation of the Treaty of London to Dail Eireann in 1921,” Undergraduate thesis, Harvard University, 1925. . [\[4\]](#p4) An Kye-ch’un, “Uri nara sahoehak ŭi sŏn’guja Ha Kyŏng-dŏk,” 189; Wŏn Chae-yŏn, “Andang Ha Kyŏng-dŏk,” 77. [\[5\]](#p4) “Letter to the Committee on Fellowships,” February 28, 1927, Harvard University, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Student Folder of Kyung Durk Har (UAIII 15.88.10 1890-1968, Box 2051). Harvard University Archives, p. 122. Courtesy of the Harvard University Archives. Hereafter, this archival source will be noted as “Student folder of Kyung Durk Har” in newly cited documents from that source, along with the page number. [\[6\]](#p4) An Kye-ch’un, “Uri nara sahoehak ŭi sŏn’guja Ha Kyŏng-dŏk,” 189; Wŏn Chae-yŏn, “Andang Ha Kyŏng-dŏk,” 76; Kyung Durk Har, “A Digest, Classification and Critical Examination of One Hundred Thirty-six Social Laws, as Enunciated by Forty-one Social Scientists, European and American,” PhD diss. Harvard University, 1928. . [\[7\]](#p4) Kyung Durk Har, *Social Laws: A Study of the Validity of Sociological Generalizations* (Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina Press, 1930). . [\[8\]](#p4) An Kye-ch’un, “Uri nara sahoehak ŭi sŏn’guja Ha Kyŏng-dŏk,” 190n7. [\[9\]](#p5) “Ha Kyŏng-dŏk ssi kwiguk” \[Mr. Ha Kyŏng-dŏk Repatriates\], *Tonga Ilbo*, October 27, 1929. [\[10\]](#p5) Wŏn Chae-yŏn, “Andang Ha Kyŏng-dŏk,” 82. [\[11\]](#p6) An Kye-ch’un, “Uri nara sahoehak ŭi sŏn’guja Ha Kyŏng-dŏk,” 190-2; Wŏn Chae-yŏn, “Andang Ha Kyŏng-dŏk,” 85; Yi Ch’i-baek, “Habŏdŭ ch’ŏt Han’gugin paksa Ha Kyŏng-dŏk.” [\[12\]](#p6) Wŏn Chae-yŏn, “Andang Ha Kyŏng-dŏk,” 85. [\[13\]](#p6) “Letter Regarding a Certificate of Graduation from High School,” April 13, 1921, Student folder of Kyung Durk Har, p. 99. Courtesy of the Harvard University Archives. [\[14\]](#p7) Wŏn Chae-yŏn, “Andang Ha Kyŏng-dŏk,” 86. [\[15\]](#p7) Yi Ch’i-baek, “Habŏdŭ ch’ŏt Han’gugin paksa Ha Kyŏng-dŏk”; An Kye-ch’un, “Uri nara sahoehak ŭi sŏn’guja Ha Kyŏng-dŏk,” 192; Kim Tong-sŏn, “Haebang ihu Ha Kyŏng-dŏk ŭi hwaltong kwa kŏn’guk insik” \[Ha Kyŏng-dŏk’s Activities After Liberation and His Understanding of Founding the Country\], *Sungsil sahak* 36 (2016): 248. [\[16\]](#p8) Wŏn Chae-yŏn, “Andang Ha Kyŏng-dŏk,” 87; Kim Tong-sŏn, “Haebang ihu Ha Kyŏng-dŏk ŭi hwaltong,” 248. [\[17\]](#p8) Skand R. Tayal, *India and the Republic of Korea*, 1st ed (London: Routledge, 2014), 14. [\[18\]](#p9) Wŏn Chae-yŏn, “Andang Ha Kyŏng-dŏk,” 88. [\[19\]](#p10) Wŏn Chae-yŏn, “Andang Ha Kyŏng-dŏk,” 88-89. ### Bibliography **Works in English by Har** Har, Kyung Durk. “The Militant Politics in Ireland from the Sinn Fein Terror in 1920 to the Presentation of the Treaty of London to Dail Eireann in 1921.” Undergraduate thesis. Harvard University, 1925. Har, Kyung Durk. “A Digest, Classification and Critical Examination of One Hundred Thirty-six Social Laws, as Enunciated by Forty-one Social Scientists, European and American.” PhD diss. Harvard University, 1928. Har, Kyung Durk. *Social Laws; a Study of the Validity of Sociological Generalizations*. Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina Press, 1930. **Archival sources** Student Folder for Kyung Durk Har (UAIII 15.88.10 1890-1968, Box 2051). Harvard University Archives, Harvard University. Courtesy of the Harvard University Archives. **Primary sources** “Ha Kyŏng-dŏk.” *Han’guk minjok munhwa taebaekkwa sajŏn*, The Academy of Korean Studies. . “Ha Kyŏng-dŏk ssi kwiguk” \[Mr. Ha Kyŏng-dŏk Repatriates\]. *Tonga Ilbo*, October 27, 1929. Yi Ch’i-baek. “Habŏdŭ ch’ŏt Han’gugin paksa Ha Kyŏng-dŏk” \[The First Korean Harvard PhD Ha Kyŏng-dŏk\]. *Sae chŏnbuk sinmun*, June 24, 2010. [http://www.sjbnews.com/news/news.php?code=li\_news\_2010&number=410602](http://www.sjbnews.com/news/news.php?code=li_news_2010&number=410602). **Secondary sources** An Kye-ch’un. “Uri nara sahoehak ŭi sŏn’guja Ha Kyŏng-dŏk” \[Korea’s pioneer in sociology, Ha Kyŏng-dŏk\]. *Inmun kwahak* 30 (1973): 187-210. Kim Tong-sŏn. “Haebang ihu Ha Kyŏng-dŏk ŭi hwaltong kwa kŏn’guk insik” \[Ha Kyŏng-dŏk’s activities after liberation and his understanding of founding the country\]. *Sungsil sahak* 36 (2016): 221-265. Tayal, Skand R. *India and the Republic of Korea*, 1st ed. London: Routledge, 2014. Wŏn Chae-yŏn. “Andang Ha Kyŏng-dŏk.” *Han’guk sahoehak* 50.2 (2016): 67-93. **Further reading** “Ha Kyeong Deok, Pioneer Korean Sociologist.” Boston Korean Diaspora Project, Boston University School of Theology. . Im Kŭn-su. “Inmullon: Andang Ha Kyŏng-dŏk” \[Biography: Andang Ha Kyŏng-dŏk\]. *Sinmun p’yŏngnon* 67 (June 1976): 67-72. Kang Sang-hyŏn. “Sahoe hakkye ŭi sŏn'gu: Ha Kyŏng-dŏk” \[A pioneer in the field of sociology: Ha Kyŏng-dŏk\]. A three-part series in *Yonse ch’unch’u*. November 29, 1976; December 6, 1976; and January 10, 1977. Kim, Jane Sung. “Leprosy in Korea: A Global History.” PhD dissertation, UCLA, 2012. *The Harvard Korean Alumni Biographies Project and the Project website are copyright © 2024 President and Fellows of Harvard College and/or its licensors. Unauthorized reproduction or distribution is not permitted.* *Please contact Executive Director Susan Laurence (*[*susan\_laurence@harvard.edu*](mailto:susan_laurence@harvard.edu)*) for any concerns or questions*. - ## Decade [1920-1930](/decade/1920-1930) - ## Korean Alumni [Harvard College](/korean-alumni-decade/harvardcollege) [Graduate School of Arts and Sciences](/korean-alumni-decade/gsas)