해방후 미군정의 서울시 고문위원회 구성과 ‘자치도시’ 공표(1945～48)

Abstract

In 1945, with the independence of Korea, the Japanese Colonial Legacy was aimed to "liquidation", but the colonial elements remained strong in many places. The same was true in Seoul. The Citizens of Seoul and the Seoul Government Autonomous Commission continued to raise the issue of colonial heritage. On the surface it seems to be overcome by changing name of ‘dong’ and area of Provincial districts, however this was not the case in the personnel administration and others through the 'Advisory Council' composed of pro–Japanese and right–oriented people. The US military government was unable to easily approach the settlement of colonial heritage in the context of the risk of administrative vacancies, the influential activities of leftist forces and the weakness of the administrative powers of the rightist forces. With the desire of the 'post–colonial' of the Korean people, the autonomy becoming out of site after the US military presence, and the breakdown of the US and Soviet Joint Commission, the US Military Government participates Korean in the administrative organization and gives a certain degree of authority, in other side it sets up the City’s Charters and establishment of the Seoul Special City. These measures were intended to show the effect of increasing residents' participation in the administration of the city. However, in reality, the proclamation of the City’s Charters and the establishment of the Seoul metropolitan city were merely measures to "demonstrate" autonomy and democracy. This can be seen in the absence of follow–up measures to create an autonomous city. The US Military Government has failed to take measures against the implementation of the ordinary election law for the formation of the popular election mayor and the municipal council and also delayed. The reason why the Seoul Metropolitan Government was unable to manage Post–colonial or to secure the autonomy of the government was that US Military Government sought to operate Seoul municipal politics in order to exclude the leftist forces and enhance the rightist forces to power. The reason why the autonomy of self–government was superficial is that the U.S. military has yet to hand over its authority to Koreans. Therefore, the Korean mayor and bureaucrats had to exercise their limited authority, which was forced to act as limits and impediments to the establishment of the Self–governing City.