이윤영 목사와 해방공간의 반탁·통일운동

Abstract

Lee Yun Young is one of the representative Methodist ministers who took the lead in Anti-Japanese Movement before Korean Independence, and he acted against Communism with Cho Man Sik as a vice chairman of Preparatory Committee for Building of Nation in Pyung Nam Province and as a vice leader of Chosen Democratic Party after the independence. Because of his participation in Anti-Trusteeship Movement, He ended up defected to South Korea to avoid persecution from the Soviet army. In South Korea, Lee Yun Young endeavored to establish the Republic of Korea government with Rhee Seung Man as a representative of the North Korean refugees and North Korean Christians. Lee Yun Young transferred the Chosen Democratic Party to Seoul and served as its vice chairperson. The Chosen Democratic Party, like Rhee Seung Man, shouted strict anti-communism and anti-trusteeship, but unlike Rhee, they participated in discussions on the Provisional Government of the US-USSR Joint Commission. They also argued that North Korea should also accept the Coalition for Left-Right, alongside South Korea, and therefore demanded the return of Cho Man Sik, a representative of North Korean right-wing. Lee Yun Young was in the center of the right-wing in South Korea, working with Rhee Seung Man. Lee Yoon Young participated in the General Headquarters for National Unification, a close guard of Rhee and became a central figure there. He also spoke for the right-wing’s perspective when the second US-USSR Joint Commission meeting resumed in May 1947, as a representative of Preparatory Committee for the Establishment of Provisional Government which is a coalition of the right-wing organizations. For such contribution, Lee Yun Young became a vice-chairman of National Society for Rapid Realization of Korea Independence which played important role in the making of the Republic of Korea. Lee Yun Young contributed significantly to the establishment of the government of Republic of Korea, not only as a representative figure in Korean Christian society, but also as a close associate of Cho Man Sik in North Korea and Rhee Seung Man in the South.