한말·일제시대 최남선의 문명·문화론

Abstract

In early 20th century Korea, a 'cultural movement' aimed at the enrichment of cultural potential through publishing news papers and magazines was championed by Korean nationalists struggling against the invasion of Japanese Imperialism. At that time, civilization and enlightenment was one of the most favored words on the lips of Korean intellectuals. The Korean nationalist elite's model of civilization and enlightenment was Western. With this in mind, I want to read Choi Nam- son(1890-1957) and his publication activities around from 1900s to 1940s. Serving as journalist, poet, and historian through his whole life, Choi strove to propagate the civilization('new culture') to Korean society and Korean culture to the extent that he named his own publishing house Sinmunkwan(新文館) in 1908 and ChosonKwangmunhoe(朝鮮光文會) in 1911. Through his two publishing houses, Choi set about the challenging and arduous work of inventing Korean 'tradition' or culture. At that time the standard of selection of Korean tradition based on the Western view. During the 1920s, that is after colonial period, his interest on the 'new culture' changed into the 'Korean Studies' on Korean's origin such as Dangun(檀君). It was the reason that existed in his critical view on the Western civilization which leading the First World War. And culture or civilization was essential slogan of not only Korean intellectuals but also for imperial Japan in its rule of the colony. Based on the self-confidence of Korean nation(民族), he contented with the Other (Japanese Korean studies) and the universalism(the West) Key Words: Choi, Nam-son, civilization, culture, Korean Studies, Manchuria After the Manchuria invasion of Japan, Choi's view on the key role of the East was changed into from Korea to Japan. Even though his reconstruction of Korean traditional culture was evaluated highly, but his conception of culture depended upon the dichotomy of civilization and barbarism. He emphasized not only culture against Japan but also civilization against the other East nations. Analyzing these topics, I will help deepen our understanding of Korean nationalist's cultural activities and the origin of the Korean Studies.