연암 박지원의 <서이방익사(書李邦翼事)>를 통해 본 조선후기 해외인식

Abstract

Korea is located at the perimeter of East Asia and its geopolitical condition had certain limitation, which was that Korea should collect all information through China. It was a chronic issue at the time caused by exchange with foreign countries only through land route. Exchange through sea route was required to overcome this limitation; however, it was very difficult in reality. Therefore, Joseon was yearning for information on overseas. During such period, information on foreign countries carried by the returnees, who survived a drift by chance, attracted keen interest of the intellectual class at the time. Seoyibangiksa (書李邦翼事) is one of such books, which was written by Yeonam Park Ji-won by the order from King Jeongjo. A person named Yi Bang-ik had met a storm on the sea and drifted to Taiwan. He came back to Korea through Jiangnan (South China) area and Beijing (North China). The route took by Yi Bang-ik in returning to home was quite new knowledge for Joseon intellects. At the time, King Jeongjo had given a royal command called Munchebanjeong (which was kind of downgrading the importance of writings on practical matter); however, Park Ji-won did not write Seoyibangiksa in accordance with royal command or took it as a simple interesting story. Park Ji-won tried to read contemporary reality through the situation in Jiangnan and surrounding area in China experienced by Yi Bang-ik. He raised the issue again toward the vain wish of ‘Bukbeol’ (expedition to conquer the north) by some Joseon nobilities through the return route of Yi Bang-ik. It can be understood as the combination result of intellectual interest of Bukhak School scholars, such as Park Ji-won, Park Je-ga, Yi Seo-gu, Yoo Deuk-gong and Seo Ho-su, with the return process of a drift survivor. Further, it was possible to understand it as a reconfirmation process of overseas awareness of intellects in late Joseon Period and the site of mutual exchange.