기독교 학교 학생들의 민족운동과 사회주의 -연희전문학교 학생회를 중심으로-

Abstract

Chosen Christian College (C.C.C) was a secular educational institution founded by Underwood as the central figure to cultivate leaders of the Joseon (Korean) people based on Christian principles, despite the opposition from the Presbyterian Church missionaries in Pyeongyang, who prioritized the Christian faith. Students of C.C.C, with the YMCA established in 1915, led the student nationalist movements by actively participating in the Chosen Student Movement (Joseon haksaeng daehoe) which was influenced by the March First Movement in 1919 and the culturalism of May 1920. In February 1923, they established a separate student association apart from the existing YMCA, to pursue an effective student nationalist movement. Led by this student association, C.C.C students actively participated in the Chosen Student Society For Science Study (Joseon haksaeng gwahak yeonguhoe), which represented a student movement organization associated with socialism in the 1920s and 1930s. The student association that led the June 10, 1926 independence movement along with the Chosen Student Society For Science Study was oppressed and suspended for ‘causing disorder in the discipline of the school by joining the student communist movement.’ In January 1932, the student association was dismantled for ‘being in contact with ideological organizations and organizing the student communist movement.’ After the student association was dismantled, students actively rebuilt and focused on the economic research society, the student council of the college of commerce, to efficiently continue the student nationalist movement. However, the Japanese colonial government was aware of the revival of the student association and suppressed their actions, after which, the student association was never revived. To achieve the goal for ‘the independence of the nation and the liberation of the minjung (people),’ the student movement of C.C.C manifested under the influence of Christianity which was the educational policy of the school as well as socialism, which had been widely accepted as a means of national liberation at the time. Students first evaluated Christianity to be effective to achieve the goal of the nationalist movement and demonstrated the nationalist movement based on that principle. However, as they came to realize that Christianity in Korea had been failing to respond to the needs of the era and the nation, they began to take more active interest in socialism. The school administration permitted the study of socialism as a perspective of respecting academic freedom, while students thought that socialism should be accepted if it can be a useful means in the nationalist movement. The most important goal of the students was not to evangelize to Christianity or to create a Christian nation, but the independence and liberation of the Koreans. As more in-depth research is necessary, the nationalist movements of the C.C.C students such as the independence movement on June 10, 1926 led by the student association of C.C.C were different than previous Christian socialism. Their activities are significant in which Christianity and socialism coexisted and cooperated during the Japanese colonial period to accomplish the goals of the era which is the independence and liberation of Korea.