韓國의 漢文廢止 論爭의 史的 考察

Abstract

This study, by considering controversies over the abolition of classical Chinese writing in Korea which have been constantly raised over the past 100 years, attempted to understand the nature of the controversies. Firstly, the fundamental issue of controversies over the abolition of classical Chinese writing is to investigate the background on controversies and grasp source of the logic of abolition, which was considered through the periodical condition of the Enlightenment when the controversies began to emerge and the changes of literary style in those days. Secondly, the aspect of controversies over the abolition of classical Chinese writing in the period of patriotic enlightenment when the controversies arose directly was subdivided into three parts such as defence of Chinese writing, abolition of Chinese writing and Hangeul-only, and its historical meaning was unfolded. The controversies over the abolition of classical Chinese writing between the conservative force that adhered to the existing Chinese writing and the progressive force that tried to accomplish modernization of Korea through Hangeul was based upon the historical proposition, 'independence' and 'self-strengthening'. Therefore, this thesis investigated the nature of earlier controversies over the abolition of classical Chinese writing, between the logic of the abolition of classical Chinese writing which had been set out under the historical proposition. Controversies over the abolition of classical Chinese writing did not reach an agreement based on the nation's independent capability, and the field for argument was taken away by Japanese imperialism in 'Gyeongsul gukchi (Japan's annexation of Korea)', which led to changed nature of controversies along with national ordeal. After the independence from the Japan occupation, the issues related to the abolition of classical Chinese writing was determined by the language policy, facing the problem of the establishment of a new nation-state. Therefore, I examined the controversies after the independence through changes in language policy and considered how the nature of earlier controversies had changed at the conclusion.