일제하 한국여성의 미국유학과 근대경험

Abstract

Before Korean Empire was annexed by Japan in 1910, two Korean women, i. e., Esther Park and Nancy Ha studied in United States. When the Japanese rule was started, Japanese Government did not allowed Korean people to study in foreign countries. During the 1910's, only few Korean women could study in United States, relying on the courtesy of missionaries in Korea. During the 1920's, Japanese policy on Korean studying abroad was changed because of the legacy of the March 1st movement and the influence of Taisho Democracy of Japan mainland. The women who graduated colleges and universities of North America returned to Korea and new women students went to study in United States. It was the turning point of the history of Korean women's studying in U.S. In the middle of 1920's, almost forty Korean women studied in United States per year, twenty to thirty women were from Korean peninsula and twenty to ten women were from Hawaii or immigrant to U.S. About five women graduated from colleges every year. During the 1930's, the flourishing period of Korean women's studying in U.S. faded away. The Great Depression of 1929, outbreak of Manchurian incident of 1931, and Japanese attack on North China of 1937 made Japanese Government to prohibit Korean's studies on foreign countries. The numbers and chances for Korean women to study in U. S. was diminished during the 1930's. The total number of Korean women who studied in U. S. during the colonial period is estimated about 120 person. The colleges and universities that Korean woman students entered were related with the missionaries in Korea or had close relations with Korea. Some universities including University of Michigan, Mount Holyoke College, and Oregon Agriculture University afforded scholarships for Korean women or Asian women were favored by Korean woman students. The majors of Korean woman students were different from those of Korean male students. Korean male students chose engineering, economy and management, education, and medical science. But Korean woman students favored music, education, theology, literature, and religion. They chose those majors because job market of Korea did not allow them any meaningful jobs but teaching. And because they were chosen for the future leaders by the mission schools, missionary board, YWCA, and other christian cultural organizations of Korea. During their stay in U.S., the Korean woman students experienced the language difficulties, economic difficulties and discrimination problems. They studied with hard labor during summer vacation and experienced the American modernity. They were fascinated by the material civilization and the social status, education opportunity, love and marriage, home life, and occupations of American women. They envied the life of American women and faced the other life of Korean women. When they returned to Korea, they became the new leader of Korean women society and education. They had to struggle with the political oppression of Japan as well as the paterfamilias tradition of Korean society.