미군정기(1945~1948) 한국의 자유주의: 이승만의 ‘반공적’ 자유주의

Abstract

This article examines the liberalism of Rhee Seungman who was the first president in the Republic of Korea and well-known political leader in the independent movement in the colonial period and From Paichai school, which was founded by the US missionary, to the US universities Rhee attended, he had access to the western learning, the US way of thinking, and Christianity. As a result, he regarded the political system in the US as the model of the independent Korea. Also, he judged the US as the messiah of the liberal world against the aggressive totalitarian states. Moreover, he expected Korea's independence from the US's diplomatic or military help. Concerning to the liberal democracy, Rhee embraced the basic rights of individual, such as the freedom of press, publication, and thought. However, he believed the state's independence was more important than the personal liberty which was emphasized by the individualistic liberalism in the US. Also, he stressed that the state should own the public industry and control the economy. The difference between Rhee's idea and the US liberalism was caused by the colonial experience and the chaotic situation in Korea after the liberation. Rhee was the strong anti-communist with regard to the Communism which was regarded as the antithesis of the liberal democracy. He criticized the pro-soviet policy of the Roosevelt administration. Even thought he held the idea of liberal democracy as a critical principle, he could give it up for anti-communistic purpose. Therefore, his thought was the liberalism dependent on the anti-communism, so called, the 'anti-communistic' liberalism. It was the most important part of Korean liberalism during the period of the US military occupation.