주체사상과 선군사상: 지배이데올로기의 변화 가능성

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to analyze how the dominant ideology in North Korea has changed from the conflict-oriented circumstances of the cold war system. While outlining the shift from Juche to Military-First ideology, I will examine the impact of this change on the system's justification and possible alternatives of the Military-First ideology. This is intended to incorporate the correlation between dominant ideology and socialist state transition into applied research on North Korea and broader comparative analysis. The period under analysis is from 1990 until now, and involves the review of document records. This relies on a critical understanding and analysis of existing North Korean documents on its socialist transitions. Although Military-First ideology has a theoretical component, it also exhibits a practical ideological function. Because of the crisis that arose from the perceived hostile policy of the United States, if DPRK-U.S. relations improve and the North Korean crisis abates, the practicality and vitality of the ideology will likely diminish. Recently, while focusing on economic development to support its politico-military power, North Korea has expressed a deep interest in improving the lives of its people. It seems likely that a gradual shift from a conflict-oriented ideology to one based on economic growth may take place. In conclusion, the analytical outlook of the correlation between North Korea's systemic transition and dominant ideology indicates that whether or not North Korea wishes to engage in passive reform as relations improve with the United States as Cuba has done, or proceeds with a gradual Chinese-style transition if cooperation in the Six-Party Talks expands, it is possible that even its dominant ideology is already shifting towards a 'Practical Socialism' alternative.