1920년대 초 계몽담론의 특성: 문명·문화·개인을 중심으로

Abstract

This paper examines the characteristics of enlightenment (kyemong) discourse during the early 1920's in Korea and their relation to the civilization reform (munmyong kaehwa) theories of the 19th century. The thought and culture of the colonial period must be understood within the complex relations among modernity, coloniality and nationalism, rather than through the binary of nationalism and imperialism. The enlightenment movement during the colonial period faced fundamental dilemmas or tensions between modernity and colonialism, imitation and identity, private freedom and public liberty, etc. Cultural enlightenment discourse in the early 1920s can be characterized as being overwhelmed by the ‘universality' of modern Western civilization until finally collapsing under colonialism, a process which can be seen as a ‘continuation' of late 19th century civilization reform theories which were also ensnared by universalism and the deficiencies of political realism. Nevertheless, the attempt to divide individual and political community and to emphasize individual responsibility spurred the development of a modern individual unclaimed by the state. Even though the pursuit of individual freedom was not extended to the public sphere, the attempt to obtain recognition for its characteristics within the private sphere was a necessary contribution to the development of individualism.