무명옷에 고무신 · 보리밥에 된장국 - 서서평의 비제국주의적 정신이 갖는 시대적 의미에 대한 연구

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to verify the meaning of the non-imperialism of E.J. Shepping who served as an American missionary in Korea, 1912-1934. She was a very characteristic missionary in contrast to the other missionaries who served in Korea. While the most part of missionaries in her times showed the attitude of imperialism, we can not find any aspect of imperialism from Shepping. Imperialism was founded on the social Darwinism. According to the law of the survival, it is natural that the stronger country preys upon the weaker one. The stronger country rules the weaker one in the name of the civilizing mission with a superiority complex and enjoys their privilege. Most of missionaries who were thrown into the social Darwinism would not conceal their consciousness of superiority. They dwelled in the western style houses on the hill apart from the common Korean villages. But Shepping gave up all of her privileges and wanted to be assimilated with Koreans, to live with common Koreans, and enjoyed the same life of Koreans. Maybe she considered herself as a Korean. She wared the Korean clothes and Korean shoes of the working classes. She ate the Korean food, barley and bean paste soup. Shepping spent all of her possession and even her life for Koreans. Thus, she died in severe poverty and hunger. But many missionaries engaged in business in addition to gospel preaching. They believed that the Gospel of Jesus Christ goes side by side with the trade of wealth of their country. They imported various merchandise from their countries and sold them to be wealthy. Underwood called a millionaire missionary. Most of missionaries, especially women missionaries, tried to give freedom to the Korean women who had lived a pitiable life under patriarchism without their own names. Missionaries believed that the Gospel of Jesus Christ gave them freedom. However, because they did not trust the Korean women, they did not want to train the competent Koreans. They did not want to hand over their position to Korean women. But Shepping would not follow their way. She went the different way from them. Therefore, she became the most special and precious missionary who served in Korea.