1919년과 1948년의 시대정신

Abstract

In 1919 and 1948 both years represent great historical landmarks in modern Korean history. Events were driven by a forceful spirit of the times. Independence of the Republic of Korea was an achievement born of the ardent desire and determined anti-Japanese struggle shared by every Korean, from the leaders of the provisional government to ordinary citizens during the period of Japanese occupation. This paper does not believe it is meaningful to draw a comparison between the American process of achieving i n d e p e n d e n c e a n d t h e K o r e a n c a s e a s s o m e K o r e a n commentators seem eager to do. It reached the conclusion by examining both political theory and historical facts. There is no historical ground upon which to draw any meaningful comparison or conclusion. It was of great significance that the Korean provisional government declared its intention to establish a democratic republic and not to restore the defunct Korean dynasty. But it was a provisional government literally and not a bona fide nation state as some people seem to insist. The decisive event which endowed the entire Korean nation with the rights and liberty which had previously been enjoyed by only to one person, the king, was the national election of 1948. That was both an electoral revolution and historical revolution. To win freedom through struggle and establish a liberal democratic system of government was a historic achievement in consonance with universal march of history and the spirit of the times.