이존창에 대한 조정 관료의 인식과 정조 刑政 -체포ㆍ석방ㆍ처형중심으로-

Abstract

This study examines the arrest, release, and execution of Yi Jonchang, a sangmin who accepted Catholicism and propagated the faith in the Naepo region during the late 18thcentury. Drawingonrecordsfrom The Journals of the Royal Secretariat, Records of Daily Reflections, and The Note, this study explores the perspectives of royal executive officials and King Jeongjo’s criminal policies concerning Yi Jonchang’s arrest, release, and execution. The findings of this study are as follows: First, The Note, written by Park Jong-ak in 1791, sheds new light on the state of Catholicism in the Naepo region and the influence of Yi preaching at that time. Second, while the royal executive officials of that period advocated for the execution of Yi who realized the Catholic idea of equality, King Jeongjo preferred rehabilitative punishment to normative sentencing. Third, Yi was arrested and released repeatedly in 1786, 1791, and 1795, before being arrested again in 1801 and executed in Gongju in February of that year. This study is significant for its focus on the perspectives of royal executive officials, who classified Catholicism as an evil ideology in the late 18th century, and on King Jeongjo’s criminal policies. It appears that Yi did not renouce Catholicism after being arrested and released four times for sixteen years. The longstanding narrative of “apostasy” in church history cannot be readily dismissed, underscoring the need for a nuanced understanding of Yi Jonchang and the Naepo Church during this period. Therefore, we need to make an effort to see the status of Yi Jonchang and the Naepo Church at that time. To date, studies on Yi Jonchang have been fragmented, leaving aspects of his life and contributions obscure and sometimes contradictory. It is hoped that future research will expand to encompass broader perspectives, addressing not only Yi Jonchang’s role in church history but also the social dynamics within the Naepo community.