《韩国史新论》的作者李基白先生,无论是在人品方面,还是学问方面,都是我最敬重的韩国学者之一,也是使我对韩国史乃至所谓韩国学感兴趣的长辈学者之一。早在大学时代,我就阅读了《韩国史新论》英文版;后来,李先生又推荐我研读了《韩国现代史论》。我对韩国史的兴趣就是因此而产生的。1995年赴韩国研修前夕欣喜地接到《韩国史新论》的 Mr. Li Jibai, author of “A New History of Korean History,” is one of my most respected Korean scholars both in terms of character and knowledge, as well as an elder scholar who makes me interested in the history of South Korea and even the so-called Korean Studies one. As early as in college, I read the English version of “The New Theory of Korean History.” Later, Mr. Lee recommended me to study the “Theory of Modern History of South Korea.” My interest in the history of South Korea is the result of this. In 1995, on the eve of my visit to Korea, I was delighted to receive the “new theory of Korean history.”