근대기 광주권번 운영의 변화과정 연구

Abstract

This paper is to describe the process of the change in the way of operating ‘Gwangju Gwonbeon’ that existed in Gwangju area during the colonial period in Korea. Gisaengs belonging to the governing offices who had worked centered on ‘Gyobang’ until the late Joseon dynasty were emancipated from slavery through the GaBo Reformation of 1894, but they were soon confronted with a complicated situation created by Japanese colonial rule. <The Gisaeng Control Ordinance> and <The Prostitute Control Ordinance> announced in 1908 were the basis for establishing the licensed brothel system in Joseon, and at the same time a device to constrain Gisaengs throughout the Japanese colonial period. Besides, Gisaengs were in a situation where they could not survive before they made themselves popular products under a colonial capital system. The history of ‘Gwangju Gwonbeon’ also reflects the contradictions faced by Gisaengs in the modern era and their strifes against them. ‘Gwangju Gwonbeon’ was launched as ‘Gwangju Female Entertainer Union’ in 1917, divided into ‘Gwangsan Gwonbeon’ and ‘Gwangju Gwonbeon’ in 1925, and integrated into one Gwonbeon in 1928. This Gwonbeon remained in the form of ’Union’ till that time, but as the depression worsened from the 1930s in the aftermath of the Great Depression, that Gwonbeon was converted into ‘A Joint-stock Company’ in 1932. However, as the company committed a continuing breach of contract, Gisaengs declared a strike and finally secured ‘An Autonomous Management Right.’ The image of Gisaengs in Gwangju revealed in this activity process appear as a being standing on a border produced by multilayered contradictions in the modern era. The Gisaengs simultaneously indicate autonomous individuals who were reborn through the emancipation from slavery, cultural entities that inherited the tradition, and civic entities that participated voluntarily in ‘Outreach Activities’ without ignoring the suffering of people in those days. On the other hand, the Gisaengs were also beings trapped in a colonial capital system. Actually, they were beings that could not be defined as a single character or, more precisely speaking, that stood on that multilayered border and swayed continuously.