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Population growth has been evoked both as a causal factor and consequence of the transition to agriculture. The use of radiocarbon (14C) dates as proxies for population allows for reevaluations of population as a variable in the transition to agriculture. In Korea, numerous rescue excavations during recent decades have offered a wealth of 14C data for this application. A summed probability distribution (SPD) of 14C dates is investigated to reconstruct population trends preceding and following adoptions of food production in prehistoric Korea. Important cultivars were introduced to Korea in two episodes: millets during the Chulmun Period (ca. 6000–1500 BCE) and rice during the Mumun Period (ca. 1500–300 BCE). The SPD suggests that while millet production had little impact on Chulmun populations, a prominent surge in population appears to have followed the introduction of rice. The case in prehistoric Korea demonstrates that the adoption of food production does not lead inevitably towards sustained population growth. Furthermore, the data suggest that the transition towards intensive agriculture need not occur under conditions of population pressure resulting from population growth. Rather, intensive rice farming in prehistoric Korea began during a period of population stagnation.

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As the use of radiocarbon dating is gradually increasing, this article is written to provide a review of best practices in the use of radiocarbon dates and their application in Korean archaeology. To promote better understanding of radiocarbon dating, first of all, before reviewing research cases, methods and principles, standard error, calibration curve, measured dates, and calibration dates are explained in detail, and the necessity of a statistical approach to measurement results and the use of calibration dates are emphasized. In addition, methods, procedures, and points to be noted for identifying abnormal dates are also discussed. Next, cases in which radiocarbon dating in Korean archaeology have been misused or misunderstood are examined. The problem of using uncalibrated dates, the problem of interpretation of radiocarbon dates which are inconsistent with historical records and typological chronology, and the use of radiocarbon dates in the plateau sections of calibration curves are examined. Finally, we review important research cases in prehistoric and historical period studies, in which radiocarbon dating is most widely used. The validity of research methods, applicable at the current level of radiocarbon dates in Korea, such as examining existing chronologies, Wiggle Matching and Bayesian modeling, and demographic approaches were examined. In addition, several alternatives were proposed for the reasonable application of radiocarbon dating and research extensibility.