한말 경북지역 의병일기의 사료적 특징과 활용을 통해 본 선비정신 - 「스토리테마파크」 이야기 소재 자료를 중심으로

Abstract

This study has introduced volunteer army journals that were used to build up a story theme park and has also organized the contents concerning volunteer army operations. The year 2015 is the 120th anniversary of the Eulmi Sabyeon (the Affair of Murdering Queen Myeongseong in 1895, the year of Eulmi), and also the 120th anniversary of organizing the Eulmi Volunteer Army in 1895. The Advanced Center for Korean Studies has extracted story subjects from the materials of volunteer army journals that have been organized to build up the 2015 Story Theme Park. Numerous materials in various forms and with various contents regarding the struggles of volunteer armies in the late Joseon Dynasty prior to the Japanese Occupation were found and utilized. These diverse types of materials concerning battles of volunteer armies were organized, compiled, and published according to the level and extent of research on battles of volunteer armies. The materials concerning operations of volunteer armies in the late Joseon Dynasty prior to the Japanese Occupation are divided into two types: one made by volunteer soldiers and other people concerned with volunteer armies and the other left by Japanese people who opposed and repressed volunteer armies and their operations. There is no denying that the second type of vast and systematic materials by Japanese people is very useful for understanding the characteristics and contents of volunteer armies in Korea. However, it is needless to say that the first type of materials by volunteer armies has absolute value for research on history. Volunteer armies developed whenever the nation was in crisis in Korean history. The most representative were the volunteer armies that came about to overcome the invasion by the Japanese in 1592, Imjin Waeran, and the volunteer armies in the late Joseon Dynasty prior to the Japanese Occupation to oppose the Japanese invasion by military force. Imran volunteer armies in the late 16th century and volunteer armies in the late Joseon Dynasty prior to the Japanese Occupation conducted military struggles to respond to foreign invasions and righteously acted on the part of civilians. Civilian volunteer army battles were fought against imperial invasions. These volunteers struggled to realize the righteous and noble ideals that were cherished by the national community and removed unjust opponents with military force by willingly sacrificing themselves at the risk of losing their lives. The class that led these volunteer army struggles demonstrated aspects of the Confucian National Movement. Confucian scholars who led volunteer armies and general civilians who participated in battles as volunteer soldiers fought under the notion of justice. Such an idea led them to support righteousness and drive out wickedness with patriotism and loyalty. When the nation was in crisis, they were willing to arise and dedicate themselves to fighting against foreign invasion with concern about national security. Their purpose was to maintain national sovereignty and regain national dignity. They faithfully did their moral duty corresponding to their social status in a national crisis. This was possible because they chose to live properly performing their roles. These volunteer army battles demonstrated their grand cause of being faithful and loyal, the righteous mind of the classical scholar, and the practices of noblesse oblige. The importance of the spirit and aim of the volunteer army battles in the late Joseon Dynasty prior to the Japanese Occupation, rather than their success or failure, still holds meaning today.