순종 사망과 장례과정 -1926년 4월부터 6·10만세운동까지-

Abstract

As soon as King Sunjong passed away on April 25, 1926, the Japanese police strengthened security across the country. On April 26, the Japan’s temporary cabinet meeting decided to hold King Sunjong’s funeral as a state funeral, and the Department of the Imperial Household officially announced the date of King Sunjong’s death as April 26, a day later, late that night. The Japanese Government General of Chosun intended to hold King Sunjong’s funeral more simply compared to King Gojong’s. Meanwhile, there was significant criticism of the Office of the Yi Dynasty, due to reasons such as neglecting the management of supplies while preparing for the funeral. At the funeral committee held at the Japanese Government General of Chosun, the funeral date was set for June 10. Generally, the funeral process for a king of Chosun took 5 months, but the funeral of King Sunjong under Japanese colonial rule was much shorter than that, only 47 days. This was because the imperial family of the Korean Empire was downgraded to the Yi Royal Family under Japanese colonial rule. The police have greatly strengthened domestic and border security in preparation for King Sunjong’s funeral and the opening of the Chosun Exposition on May 13. The Japanese Army stationed in Chosun also took measures, such as setting up a security command within the Chosun Military Police Headquarters and deploying some troops from June 9 to 11. Around June 6, the preparations for the June 10th Independence Movement, led by members of the Cheondoism religious group and others, were discovered in advance, and the police began large-scale activities. Finally, June 10, the day of the funeral, arrived. The funeral process did not proceed smoothly. Due to the interference of the authorities, there were problems such as not being able to properly display the name tablet in front of the spirit palanquin and hiding it in a instrument instead. Additionally, the Office of the Yi Dynasty made a mistake by omitting the biggest ritual during the burial at Yureung Royal Tomb. And while the funeral was taking place, the June 10th Independence Movement broke out. Almost from the moment the funeral procession departed, students took center stage at every street corner passing by, scattering proclamations and chanting for Chosun’s independence, but they were arrested on the spot. In the end, the outbreak of the June 10th Independence Movement on the day of the state funeral became a serious issue, and the issue of responsibility of the Department of the Imperial Household, the Cabinet, the Japanese Government General of Chosun, and the Office of the Yi Dynasty was discussed.