현대문학 연구자 정체성의 문화냉전적 기원에 대한 물음 이봉범의 『전향, 순수, 전후, 참여』(성균관대학교출판부, 2023),『한국의 냉전문화사』(소명출판, 2023)

Abstract

This article provides a critical examination of Bongbeom Lee’s books, Conversion, Purity, Post-war, and Engagement (2023) and Cultural History of the Cold War in Korea (2023), offering a comprehensive overview of the author’s extensive research in the realm of cultural Cold War studies. Conducted between 2006 and 2022, Lee’s work delves into the financial, cultural, and ideological dynamics shaping the postwar Korean intellectual landscape in the aftermath of the Korean War. The narrative unfolds across two primary dimensions. Firstly, Lee scrutinizes the endeavors of U.S. cultural aid organizations, elucidating their pivotal role in providing financial and intellectual support for the reconstruction and reorganization of Korean knowledge during the Cold War era. Secondly, he explores the establishment of a post-war knowledge space through the inception of diverse media outlets. The third facet involves the dissemination of Cold War texts in Korea, facilitated by the collaborative efforts of aid organizations and the Cold War-oriented Korean media. Lee’s analytical framework encompasses three temporal phases, focusing on the 1950s and 1960s. This multilayered approach aims to reveal the cultural practices of postwar Korean intellectuals by bringing to light the specific aspects of the postwar reality that shaped their responses. Within this context, Lee highlights the dual influence exerted by U.S. foreign policy and the socio-political landscape of Korea, asserting that Korean intellectuals faced a dual pressure to conform to the Cold War system. Moreover, he contends that it was the responsibility of these intellectuals to articulate a vision for their role in the face of such challenging conditions.