근대 조선인노동자의 덕목(ethos) -유길준의 노동야학독본과 최남선의 자조론, 1908~1918-

Abstract

“Self-Help”, the representative ethos for Korean workers in early modern period, were born and spread in Britain during the mature period of capitalism, Japan during the Meiji Restoration period, and Joseon after the opening of the port. ‘Self-Help’ born in Britain was formed under the influence of progressive liberalism and its fundamental philosophy of utilitarianism, which seeks to solve the structural problems of capitalism. In the Meiji era, when the old system collapsed, Japan was regarded as the driving force behind the formation of the new system. In Joseon, where the rule of the powers was spreading, it was initially regarded as the driving force for national self-discipline, but after World War I it was considered the driving force behind the formation of a “social” system. Labor-Respect and Self-Help were first presented by Yoo Gil-Joon among the ethos that Joseon workers should pursue, presented on the ‘Gonje’, the organ of Joseonnodonggojehoi which was the Korea’s first labor organization. Yoo Gil-Jun stressed that human beings who fulfill their rights and duties are dignified, that honest, sincere and industrious labor, regardless of the form of work, must enjoy freedom that is not morally out of place, and that these ethos are feasible through Self-Help, emphasizing worker discipline based on trust, order and competition. However, Yoo Gil-Jun did not present “Self-Help” on the premise of “social,” a voluntary personal solidarity, and was presented in the course of Choi Nam-Seon’s explanation of “Self-Help.” The ethos of “Social Service” is established only when Self-Help, which is based on the premise of “social,” a voluntary personal solidarity, is assumed, not just an individual’s success. In other words, the ethos of modern Korean workers, such as “Labor Respect,” “Self-Help,” and “Social Service,” presented on the ‘Gonje’, the organ of Joseonnodonggojehoi which was the Korea’s first labor organization, were first presented by Yoo Gil-jun and completed by Choi Nam-Seon.