20세기 전기 한국 지식인들의 몽골 인식 1 ― 과거, 현재, 미래에 대한 평가와 전망 ―

Abstract

This study is an analysis on the recognition of the Korean intellectuals in the first half of the 20th century on the past, present, and the future of Mongolia reflected on the newspapers and magazines published at that time of era. In short, the observation of Mongolia by the Korean intellectuals can be summarized as the prosperous past, the comedown of the present, and the future with the coexistence of hope and anxiety. It is possible to describe this evaluation as an interpretation related to the circumstances of Korea at that period although it is primarily based on phenomena in Mongolia itself. The Korean newspapers and magazines published in the early 20th century reported mainly about the achievements of Chingiz Khan and the Mongol Empire. Primarily, this is a reflection of unconditional obedience to authority and men with power. On the other hand, the background of this situation can be interpreted as the desire of the times toward the national prosperity and defense, modernization, and the restoration of national power. Also, in this period, the press reported many comments on the Mongolian conquering even the West not just the East. It is assumed that the hostility toward the West and imperialism, the inferiority complex on getting left behind the modernization, and getting vicarious satisfaction through Mongolia were the psychological factors in the background. Secondly, almost every Korean intellectuals regarded the present of Mongolia as a ruined country. This opinion was based on the facts that Mongolians were spreaded inside and outside of the country, other industries like agriculture or commerce were limited except living a nomadic life, and the people were unenlightened because of being domesticated by Lamaism. Even though these are conclusions based on phenomena at that time, it can be also described as a result of the Korean intellectuals' cult of China's perspective toward Mongolia which was divided into civilization and barbarism. In other words, Korean intellectuals were following the old tradition which was focused on the point of view of the agricultural people, that is, the Chinese conflicting with the nomadic people. The third point is that the evaluation of the future of Mongolia from Korean intellectuals included various viewpoints which indicate the coexistence of hope and anxiety. The difference of recognition occur mainly in the evaluation of the 1921 revolution and the 1930s autonomy and independence movement in Inner Mongolia. Some of them evaluate two events positively or negatively, when some evaluate the revolution positively and the autonomy movement negatively. The position in political issues or thoughts, the situation of the Japanese colonial period, the influence of Japanese press, and the China's stance which was opposed to the independency of the minority group were factors influencing the Korean intellectuals' opinions upon Mongolia.