문명개화에서 반공으로 : 이승만과 개신교의 관계의 변화, 1912∼1950

Abstract

This article deals with the relation between Syngman Rhee, the first president in the Republic of Korea (ROK) and Christianity. As it is well known, Syngman Rhee brought many lenient policies towards Christian groups during his presidency. This trend dates back to the pre-colonial period when he was sentenced to prison due to his activity in the Independence Club. While Rhee was in exile to the US from 1912 to 1945, he connected the destiny of Korean Christianity with that of Korea. Because of the Japanese propaganda and the U. S. policy toward East Asia, it would be extremely difficult to shift US attention to Korea. Like Homer H. Hulbert, therefore, Syngman Rhee used a propaganda that Korea would be a Christian country without Japanese oppression. The separation between church and state with the latter's influence upon the former was well entrenched in the United States so that Rhee's logic had somewhat support. Because of his name value for struggle for independence, he became very prominent among average Koreans after Korea was liberated from Japanese reins. Under the USA Military Government in Korea (USAMGIK), therefore, Christianity had great potential to influence Korean society so that the leaders such as Rhee, Kim Ku, and Kim Kyu-sik all had to extract support form Korean Christians. In that sense, at last, Rhee obtained Korean Christian support through his tough stance towards trusteeship issue and the US-USSR Joint Commission. When Rhee became the first President, American missionaries and Korean Christians welcomed the creation of the Republic of Korea. In response to that, President Rhee proclaimed that the new government would fully support missionary activities. Among many special treatment, the state or social-level funerals for the deceased missionaries were very exemplary. The religious policy like this on the part of Rhee lasted longer than his presidency.