해방 후 한글전용론의 주체, 방법, 범위의 문제 - 조선어학회의 ‘우리말 도로 찾기 운동’과 김기림의 우리말 논의를 중심으로

Abstract

This essay reviewed the backgrounds of 'the Recovery Movement of Korean Words,' developed after the liberation of Korea. Subsequently, it examined the problematic aspects about the controversy over the abolition of Chinese characters. The 'Recovery Movement of Korean Words' began under the universal and full support from top to bottom. However, this movement was embroiled in controversy due to the abolition of Chinese characters, argued by Choi Hyeon Bae, highlighting the creation of new words, carried in the textbooks without people's consensus. Choi Hyeon Bae who was a key figure of the Chosun Language Society and editing director in the Ministry of Education internalized the logic of national rebirth from the colonial period. He clung to have the pure words based on a pure-blooded nation. In this regard, the author of this essay takes note of four relevant writings of Kim Gi Rim published at the same time; "For the establishment of a new style (Nov. 1948)," "The path of a new style(Mar~Apr. 1949)," "The creation of new words (Jul. 1949)," and "the reality of Chinese Character (Oct. 1949)." His writings analyzed the problems of 'The Recovery Movement of Korean Words‘ and demonstrated the aspect of ideal language movement, even though he admitted that the Recovery Movement of Korean Words would be significant. Judging from his argument in his writings under the circumstance that left-wing movement was proclaimed as being illegal and becoming a member of the Federation Protecting and Guiding the Public was forced by going through the establishment of the independent government, his argument in his writings must have implied an urgent and critical aspect. To elucidate this matter, this essay reviewed the new words like "the ingenious public" suggested by Kim Gi Rim, and analyzed the claims of him who argued that the unification of the written language and spoken language should be an ultimate goal in an attempt to change the style going beyond the aspects of words. Put simply, Kim Gi Rim believed that democracy which puts the public into the priority in view of social and cultural aspects could be established through the settlement of the language life based on the unification of the written language and spoken language. Choi Hyeon Bae and Kim Gi Rim set different subjects, methods, and scopes and designed the concepts of language. The former dealt with the efficient methods, which could acquire the standards which are inclusive of a special man who felt the necessity within the realm of words, while the latter considered the styles based on the free language life by putting up the public as subjects. At that time, the formation of the style was problematic in a sense that the style indicates the realm beyond the colligation of words. For Kim Gi Rim, the space of liberation was the place to make it possible to realize such ideal.