해방 전후 ‘유령인구’의 존재론

Abstract

‘Colonial statistics’ can reveal how to recognize an empire of colonies, as this type of statistics has the effect of showing colonies which are represented on their own. This article attempts an interpretative approach toward ‘colonial statistics’ by examining the view of a colonial power as represented by colonial statistics, also discussing the colonized’s appropriation methods. The article examines the ‘ghost population’ appearance of the wartime mobilization system to the US military government in Korea. ‘Ghost population’ is keyword that reveals a contradiction in the statistics. Therefore, it can investigate the problems and politics of using statistics leading to improved understanding through scientific thinking. The modern demographic is in contact with an imagination of catastrophe to declare the end of Korea through correspondence to “An Essay on the Principle of Population” by Malthus. Thus, the political appropriation of Malthus relates to a sense of crisis about food as well as the movement of populations. The ‘rice’ problem was the most acute political conflict, as a ‘rice control policy’ was carried out before and after the emancipation of Korea. The wartime system is becoming the most important issue related to ‘food security’. Thus, before and after the emancipation of Korea, census data and statistics were collected more frequently than ever for a faire distribution of food. This article examines the politics of modern statistics and literature to follow the course of the succession of the ‘ghost population’ in the census and its reign before and after the emancipation of Korea.