“역도조선(力道朝鮮)”의 명암 : 일제강점기 역도의 발전과 힘(力)의 주체 전환

Abstract

This study examines the introduction and development of weightlifting during the Japanese colonial period and analyzes its dual nature. The growth of modern Korean sports needs to be understood not only in the context of nationalist influence but also in its multidimensional relationship with colonial authority. Weightlifting in colonial Korea grew within the coexistence of nationalist aspirations and Japanese colonial rule, as both inadvertently emphasized the goal of promoting robust physical health. Notably, the correlation between sport and improving physical fitness influenced the development of weightlifting during the Japanese colonial period from the perspective of medical history. Weightlifting in Korea was originally introduced and encouraged by Korean elites with a nationalist orientation. During the Japanese colonial period, Koreans used it as a means to communicate and unite with each other. This solidarity, in turn, propelled the development of weightlifting. As weightlifting developed, it acquired a dual nature, as the agent of power (力) gradually shifted. Initially, weightlifting was introduced as a means of strengthening the Korean nation through physical training, but by the late 1930s, it had transformed into a sport that aligned with the national policy of promoting healthy citizens. When the total mobilization system was implemented, Japan promoted the improvement of the nation’s physical fitness, even in the colonies. This close integration of national policy and sports directed Korean weightlifting toward the goal of “improving the physical fitness of the populace.” In other words, the original nationalistic focus on a healthy body coincidentally aligned with Japanese colonial policies, resulting in a duality in Korean weightlifting. Furthermore, the achievements of Korean weightlifting athletes amplified national pride, but weightlifting’s national characteristics gradually eroded under the slogan of Naeseon Ilche, or “Japan and Korea are one.” The Korean elite originally intended to showcase the prowess of the Korean nation to Japan and the world through sports, especially weightlifting. Paradoxically, colonial rule induced interest among the populace in matches between Korean and Japanese athletes and acted as a catalyst for the development of athlete capabilities. Nevertheless, the accomplishments of Korean athletes belonged to the Japanese Empire. The power they exhibited, namely as the agent of physical prowess, was externally represented not as “Korean” but as “imperial subjects.” In addition, when Korean weightlifters were perceived to overwhelm Japanese performance and shake the hierarchy of the Empire of Japan, Korean weightlifting was blocked from further development by Japanese colonial rule. Yeokdo Joseon, or “Weightlifting Joseon,” was a headline that encompassed duality, leveraging a sense of national victory to subdue national identity. It also had a dual nature in that it served as a signal announcing its end while celebrating the peak of weightlifting development in Korea.