李基白의 『한국사 시민강좌』 간행과 民族의 理想 실현 지향

Abstract

Since his publication of The Citizens' Forum on Korean History(『韓國史 市民講座』) in 1987, there seems to be two points Lee Kibaik(李基白,1924-2004) continued to emphasize through his own writing and "Letter to Readers". First point is that Korean history itself evolved towards society for freedom and equality, and second is the fact that ideal of the Korean people was to build a democratic society in pursuit of freedom and equality. He already reflected such point of view from the new edition of Han'guksa Sillon (『韓國史新論』,A New History of Korea) in 1990, which he deemed as another self. We can see that he significantly and consistently dealt with the April Revolution throughout Kuksa Sillon (『國史新論』,A New History of Our Nation,1961) and the first edition (1976) and Korean version (1999) of Han'guksa Sillon. And it is obvious that in the course of discussing the historic meanings of this April Revolution, he emphasized freedom' in Kuksa Sillon and naturally argued in favor of ‘development of democracy' in the first edition of Han'guksa Sillon (1967). And then he mentioned the ‘mainstream of people's direct political participation' from the revised version of Han'guksa Sillon (1976) and one step further In Its new edition (1990), he said "I expect this trend will be connected to building of a democracy country In which social justice Is secured based on freedom and equality."This tells us two facts on which he placed his firm conviction: First Is that Korean history I tself evolved towards society for freedom and equality, and second Is the fact that I deal of the Korean people was to build a democratic societyIn pursuit of freedom and equality. At the time of his publication of The Citizens' Forum on Korean History In 1987 for ordinary readers, he started to advocate his conviction as such and reflected It In the new edition of Han'guksa Sillon and then sustained such conviction In Its Korean version.