남북정상회담의 前史 ― 남북협상과 1950년대 통일논의 ―

Abstract

At a time when the South-North negotiations mark its 60th anniversary, a new evaluation has a very important meaning academically and in reality. First, the negotiations were part of the efforts to build a modern nation state. It was a test of whether the developments of modernization - since Korea was forced to join the global system of modern capitalism by Japan - could lead to building a nation state. Second, the inter-Korean negotiations tried to achieve an independent modern nation. The 35 years of the Japanese colonial rule turned many Koreans into traitors. There was also a doubt whether the interim government and independence movement activists could establish a new nation. Moreover, the doubt was strong as the 1945 independence was achieved by outside power rather than by Korean themselves. In that sense, the negotiations were a test bed for whether to overcome such historical limits. Third, the negotiations were a peaceful movement to build a nation. At the time, many Koreans in South and North felt the threat of a potential war. They worried that the establishment of the two governments would immediately lead to the outbreak of civil war. Nationalists, who were against the war, called for and joined inter-Korean negotiations to prevent it. Fourth, although there were limitations, socialists and nationalists reached an agreement. The agreement was not enough for a new nation's system. Still, it was meaningful in that it gave them the possibilities of seeking specific ways. Such historic achievement of the negotiations was reconfirmed in the 2000 inter-Korean Summit. In that sense, the negotiations take the position as pre-history of the summit. However, despite such historic significance, the negotiations had limitations as well. First, negotiations with the forces led by Lee Seung-Man who independently sought the establishment of a government were not considered. It was a matter of strategy for socialists, but there were some problems with nationalists. Second, the participants of the negotiations saw the process of the establishment of the Republic of Korea completely as an anti-national act. It shows nationalists understood the establishment of a nation as a higher value than its system. Their attitude eventually led to shut themselves off from the cause of involving in the establishment process.