19세기 公論 형성의 글쓰기 지형 검토 - 문집 소재 奏議類 및 論辨類 산문의 時務論 전개양상을 중심으로 -

Abstract

This study explores the writing topography of the formation of public opinion by examining the development of current affair theory in prose in the 19th century collections of works. In the late Joseon Dynasty, the norms of the writings to the king were institutionally organized through law codes and rule books. Also the appeals of the Confucian scholars were carefully controlled. Meanwhile, the formation of large-scale public opinion was promoted through writing, such as taechaek on the Three Policies (samjeongchaek 三政策) in 1862 and the memorial in the name of ten thousand men (maninso 萬人疏) afterward. Furthermore, at the end of the 19th century, during the modern transition period of the Joseon Dynasty, which diverged amidst the dynamics of international circumstances, interest in current affairs (shimu 時務) was heightened. As a result, literary works that actively expanded upon discussions related to such issues could be found. This paper reviews the writers and writing practices of 19th century prose, focusing on jueui (奏議) prose such sangso and taechaek, and nonbyeon (論辨) prose such as personal opinion (saeui 私議) and dialogue (mundae 問對). In addition, this study highlights the problem of the participation of Confucian scholars who had not been admitted to a government office in political discussions (出位論政) as a limitation placed upon the scope of those who could participate in public opinion formation. Although the social classes eligible to participate in real politics were limited, the current affair theory was developed in multiple layers of writings. Simuso and simuchaek were writing media that contributed to the public sphere in the fierce political dynamics of the Joseon Dynasty in the 19th century. These writings were channels of communication between rulers and subjects with political formalities. Especially, samjeongchaek, a representative text on current affairs from the 19th century, was the media for a collection of large-scale public opinion that attempted to explore practical countermeasures. Whereas jueui prose had limitations in description according to political discourse and genre, Kim Yun-sik's 「Sibnyuk saeui」 and Kang Jin-gyu's 「Kiwoo saeui」 examined in this paper, reveal the current affairs theory that was controlled in public writing or show various aspects that more accurately reflect the authors’ viewpoints. Texts written in a style where the authors’ arguments and composition were relatively unrestricted were the public sphere of writing organized by the authors. Anonymous ‘conversation partner’ set up in private writing served as a device for creating a public sphere of writing, supporting the legitimacy of spoken opinions on public affairs and relieving author from the responsibility for being vocal with such opinions.