1910~20년대 조선총독부의 간이생명보험 제도 이식 과정과 특징

Abstract

When Japan established the Postal Life Insurance system in 1916, the Government-General of Korea sought to implement it in Korea as well. Particularly in the 1910s, while pursuing financial independence plans, the Government-General aimed to utilize the Postal Life Insurance system as a means to offset financial shortages. At the time, the Japanese government had plans to expand its Postal Life Insurance system to colonies like Korea and Taiwan. However, the Government-General sought to independently implement the system apart from Japan. Amid conflicting plans between Japan and the Government-General, the pursuit of the “seperate plan” for the Postal Life Insurance system in Korea was halted with the appointment of Governor-General Derauchi as Prime Minister. After the March 1st Movement in 1919, the Government-General’s plans for financial independence were suspended. However, following the Kanto Earthquake in 1923, the Japanese government focused on financial recovery efforts, leading to the depletion of funds supplied to Korea from the Imperial Treasury for disaster relief. With other financial means like taxation or public bonds not viable options, the Japanese Imperial Treasury demanded that Korea secure funds through the Postal Life Insurance system. However, conflicting visions emerged again between the Imperial Treasury’s proposal for expanding Japan’s Postal Life Insurance system to Korea, similar to Kanto and Taiwan, and the Government- General’s insistence on operating the Postal Life Insurance system autonomously. Just as in the 1910s, the introduction of the Postal Life Insurance system to Korea faced uncertainty, but with the support of Governor Yamnashi, who advocated for the “expansion plan,” and the appointment of Governor-General Yamagata and Chief Secretary Ikegami, the “separate plan” was eventually approved. Upon examining the process of introducing the Postal Life Insurance system in the 1910s and 1920s reveals a relationship between the Japanese government and the Government-General that was more dependent than autonomous. Specific characteristics of this relationship include: Firstly, the financial operations of the Government-General were greatly influenced by the financial situation of the Japanese government. In the 1910s, the Government-General’s financial independence plan led to the discontinuation of supplemental payments from the Japanese government, while in the 1920s, plans were made to offset finances through Postal Life Insurance following the Kanto Earthquake. Secondly, the policies of the Government-General were determined by political changes in Japan, such as cabinet reshuffles. Attempts to introduce the Postal Life Insurance system by the Government-General were thwarted in the 1910s with Governor Derauchi’s resignation, but were accomplished in the 1920s following changes in leadership.