초기 재일유학생의 주권인식(1905‒1910) 태극학보, 대한학회월보, 대한유학생회학보, 대한흥학보를 중심으로

Abstract

The concept of sovereignty was introduced to the Korean Peninsula from the West via the Qing Dynasty and Japan starting from 1870‒80s, through such channels as W.A.P. Martin’s translations of Wheaton’s “Elements of International Law” (Manguk kongpop) and Bluntschli’s “International Law” (Kongpop hoetong). While the Western concept of sovereignty was being introduced and established on the Korean Peninsula, the Korean people’s understanding of it varied depending on class and time period. During the reign of the Japanese imperialism on the Korean Peninsula, the main intellectual class came from the number of Korean students who had studied in Japan. Therefore, the first Japanese‒educated Korean students’ understanding of sovereignty has had an influence on the spread of the concept of sovereignty on the Korean Peninsula, which should not be overlooked. When it comes to such studies of sovereignty, there is not enough research available with regard to the academic activities or journals of the Korean students who had studied in Japan. That is why this paper examines the understanding of sovereignty of the Korean students who had studied in Japan from 1905 to 1910, taking the Taegukhakbo, DaehanHakhoi Wolbo, Daehanyuhaksaenghoe Hakbo, and Daehanhunghakbo journals as the objects of research. The following conclusions are drawn from the analysis. First, among the journal articles that related to the subject of sovereignty, there are many discussions that introduce sovereignty as the constituent element of a state. Second, there are many articles that interpret sovereignty from the perspective of international law. Third, a phenomenon where the terms of “sovereignty”, “sovereign”, and “imperium” are confused may be seen. Fourth, the internal interpretation of sovereignty differs from the modern concept of sovereignty. According to the Taegukhakbo, sovereignty on the Korean Peninsula represents the highest power in the country, which is not subject to external interference; sovereignty lies in the hands of the monarch, and the exercise of sovereignty depends on the monarch; hence, as a system of government it is an absolute monarchy.