후백제역사문화권 정립과 추진 방향

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the Special Act on the Maintenance of Historical and Cultural Zones, which was enacted in 2020 and revised in 2021, and to determine whether the law is applicable to the establishment of the Later Baekje Historical and Cultural Zones. The main discussion of the study focuses on the process of establishing and revising the Special Act and on determining whether the detailed plan of the Later Baekje Historical and cultural zones corresponds to the standards provided by the act. The discussion will be followed by the presentation of various directions and measures required for the establishment of the Later Baekje Historical and Cultural Zones. Later Baekje existed for just 45 years, during which time it assumed a definite attitude as the successor to Baekje while struggling to remain a unified country with a well-defined identity. In its early phase, Later Baekje showed the characteristic elements of a military regime formed by a coalition of powerful local warlords, but it gradually developed into a kingdom ruled by a powerful monarch and a centralized government, thus exhibiting the general trend of development shown by its predecessor, Baekje. The territory of Later Baekje varied depending on the circumstances, but in its heyday the kingdom encompassed present-day Jeolla-do, a part of Chungcheong-do, the northern part of Gyeongsangbuk-do, and the western part of Gyeongsangnam-do. The archaeological sites scattered across the area once occupied by Later Baekje have produced a variety of artifacts and archaeological features dating back to the Later Three Kingdoms period, including Buddhist statues and stone pagodas from Baekje that display the cultural influence of Later Baekje, which persisted around the area even after the kingdom’s fall. These archaeological remains, together with the social and philosophical heritage of Later Baekje, which aspired to overcome the existing order of the transitional period and establish a new order, are regarded as clear evidence that Later Baekje deserves far more attention from historians regarding its significance in Korean history. The Later Baekje Historical and Cultural Zones corresponds to the standards set by the Special Act on the Maintenance of Historical and Cultural Zones, and its historical significance and value make it a perfect candidate for designation as a Historical and Cultural Zones to be promoted and preserved by the Korean government according to the Special Act. Despite that, special legal status cannot be accorded to the Later Baekje Historical and Cultural Zones on the principle of appropriateness or reasonableness alone. Rather, it is the activities of the consultative bodies operated by the local administrations of the provinces, cities and counties located in the territory of Later Baekje that are most important. Therefore, local governments and their consultative bodies should focus their activities on raising public awareness about the history and culture of Later Baekje and shedding new light on its heritage. One priority among these activities should be to designate Jeonju as a Ancient City according to the Special Act on the Preservation and Promotion of Ancient Cities. The efforts of the local government should be combined with those of organizations from the academic milieu and civil society that are devoted to discovering and propagating the historical and cultural value of Later Baekje across society.