기독교와 공산주의, 기호-서북 지역갈등 및 선교지 분할정책에 의한 복합적 원인이 민족 분열과 분단에 미친 영향

Abstract

Although a new period began after marking the 100th anniversary of the March 1st Independence Movement and the provisional government, political polarization in Korea remains a task that is yet to be solved. In the context of 150 years of pre-modern and modern Korean history, the complex socio-regional conflicts that were present during the introduction of Christianity and Communism are recognized as major roots of this division. At the core of the division process, it is argued that the effects were amplified by the intersection of internal factors such as ethnic conflicts between the Giho and Seobuk provinces and external factors of Christianity and Communism. Despite the positive influence these two foreign ideas had on Korea’s modern and contemporary history by driving national education and independence movements during the period of enlightenment, when combined with regional conflicts, they resulted in crippling divisions within the independence movement that surrounded the provisional government amid a globally turbulent era. At the center of the conflict were the Giho and Samnam Koreans who preferred capitalism in association with America and the Seobuk Koreans who preferred socialism/communism in association with Russia. However, as a result of the Comity Agreement of the Mission Field, Seobuk provinces that experienced great Christian revival movements were split and re-oriented into the Seodo region (Pyongando and part of Huanghaedo) that was influenced by American missionaries and the Bukdo region (Hamgyongdo including Bukgando and premorsky), which was relatively under the influence of Canadian missionaries; this resulted in the reorganization of Christianity and Socialism within the Conservative and Progressive Solidarity, respectively. This political reshuffling changed the direction of the formation process of the provisional unified government that developed rapidly after the March 1 Independence Movement led by Seodo-region leaders such as An Chang-Ho, Son Jong-Do, Liang Gi-Tak. Traditionally, although such individuals as part of the Seobuk alliance with Bukdo-origin Lee Dong-Hui (through the Seobuk Academic society) confronted the Giho alliance, the Seodo leaders eventually sided with America and joined the conservative Giho-solidarity. Furthermore, the aftermath of this reshuffling spread throughout the whole independence movement and formed the root of division between conservative and progressive, and/or individual gospel and social gospel in Korea's modern history. By structurally investigating and studying the roots of such separation and division, this paper seeks to find future-oriented ways to improve the ideological confrontation in Korean society for preparation of the unification of Korea.