해방 후 이광수의 ‘친일문제’ 인식과 반민특위 처리과정

Abstract

Yi Kwang-su's Recognition of Pro-Japanese issues and procedure of treating the Special Committee for Investigation on Anti-national activity after Liberation Heo, Jong [Abstract] This thesis is about reviewing the whereabouts after liberation and the recognition of pro-Japanese issues of Yi Kwang-su, one of the representative pro-Japanese, and examining the procedure of treating the Special Committee for Investigation on Anti-national activity(SCIA). For about a year after liberation, Yi Kwang-su, being aware of his pro-Japanese activity, spent some time of seclusion, abstaining from outward activity and writing. Meanwhile in the political situation that pro-Japanese were appointed to major position of power and the demand of punishment on pro-Japanese was diluted because of the left-right confrontation, he regained his self-confidence and renewed his activity, taking the opportunity of writing the biography of An Chang-Ho. On the occasion of establishment of a sole government, he revealed himself as 'anti-communist', ‘nationalist', blamed the leftists harshly and made sure of the loyalty to the country, defining himself as a free citizen of an independent country. As the Constitutional Assembly enacted the Law for Punishment of Anti-national activity, he insisted on forgiving and forgetting the past, because his pro-Japanese activity was for the nation and all the Koreans were a party to the activity only in varying degrees. Though arrested by SCIA, he was soon released delaying the investigation. He was sent to the prosecution with nonindictment comments acknowledging rather too late that his action was passive and he rendered distinguished service to the state. The special prosecutors division brought out nonindictment putting up 'the theory of competent pro-Japanese'. Interruption of Rhee Seung-man government and the pro-Japanese powers played a decisive role in dispersing punishment of Yi Kwang-su. The lack of qualification of SCIA members and the weakened will of punishing the pro-Japanese thereof played a role as well. (Chungnam National University / hjong@cnu.ac.kr)