나환과 소문, 소록도의 기억 - 나환 인식과 규율체제의 형성에 관한 언술 분석적 접근

Abstract

This study aims to relate the systems controlling leprous asylum during Japanese occupation and the dictatorial Yusin period with the remarks made by medical, theological, political and media accounts. The unknown cause allows the rumors to spread especially when it comes to a disease. Before the dichotomous etiologic arguments on leprosy, whether it is genetic or contagious,ended up with appointing the latter, leprosy had experienced the same fate. This means overall social attitude toward the leprosy had been formed by rumors. Modern newspapers and magazines have contributed to shaping up the metaphor of leprosy which was readily absorbed into people’s daily routine. In this circumstance, the connotation of leprosy meant the obvious sign of evil. Throughout the colonial period, lepers were not supposed to be merely quarantined but expelled from society, so that they could be basically subjects to isolation, not treatment. Sanitary and leper colony were to protect the public health condition, not for treatment of lepers and prevent the leprosy from prevailing. The history of the leper colony in Sorokdo is closely related to the procedure the body of a leper changes. By manipulating horror of leprosy, Japanese colonizers justified the expansion of leper colony which was governed by strict regulations. The body of lepers served as significant medium for enacting public sanitary policy. The combination of colonial policy based on the logic of eviction, quarantine, sanitary and isolation with Christian concept of salvation, and medical research evolved into utopian view which placed importance on the effort to selfhealing promised and bright future. Throughout the history, the leprosy has always been located on other than subject word, being limited by the descriptions. The social existence of the leprosy and lepers were controlled by heteronomous regulation during colonial period and autonomous regulation all through the dictatorial Yusin period,which seemed to be an improvement but in fact simply altered the former.