대한제국기 근대화 운동에 대한 재평가

Abstract

The period of the Daehan Empire was crucial in the modernization process of Korea. In the former part of the Daehan Empire, ‘modernization from above’, which took place after the opening of the port, resulted in Gwangmu(광무) reform by the dictatorship and was promoted by the government. In the latter part of the Daehan Empire after the outbreak of the Russo-Japanese War, civilian forces which had been holding their breath promoted ‘modernization from below’. The Gwangmu reform promoted by the Daehan Empire pursued ‘limited modernization.’ King Gojong, who proposed ‘Gubonsincham(舊本新參)’ as the national administration guideline after the flight to the Russian legation, declared ‘Hyeokgudosin(革舊圖新)’ along with the proclamation of the Daehan Empire. This was based on the judgment that the old systems and culture cannot be sustained as they are due to changes in domestic and overseas situations. The Gwangmu Reform, which focused on national defense, industry, urban construction, human resources development, aimed to become a wealthy and powerful nation, and produced tangible results to some extent. However, internal integration by protecting the lives and property of the people failed. As the Russo-Japanese War broke out, the Gwangmu Reform was stopped, and a reform movement by civilian forces began. The Iljinhoe(일진회), a coalition of former members of the Independence Association and Donghak(동학) forces, chose to go head-to-head with the government, advocating ‘protection of people’s lives and property.’ The Iljinhoe, which relied on Japan to avoid the government's oppression, claimed that ‘Japan's guidance and protection’ were necessary for Korea’s civilization after Japan won the Russo-Japanese War. The Iljinhoe, which became involved in power, advocated for the annexation of Korea by Japancame after Ahn Jung-geun’s assassination of Ito Hirobumi. The final destination that the Iljinhoe, which started as a reform group, reached was the ‘colonial modernization theory.’ Among the civilian forces, those who agreed on the need for ‘reform’ but were reluctant to join the Iljinhoe gathered in the Gongjinhoe(공진회) and then the Constitutional Research Society(헌정연구회). The Daehan Jaganghoe(대한자강회), which was an expansion of the Constitutional Research Society that had been campaigning for a constitution, argued that in order to ‘recover national sovereignty,’ the nation needed to be prosperous and that education and industry were necessary. It was a ‘protectorate modernization theory’ that sought to achieve civilization and prosperity under the Japanese protectorate. The Daehan Association(대한협회), which was a successor to the Daehan Jaganghoe, gave up the short-term goal of ‘recovering national sovereignty,’ but opposed annexation by Japan and insisted on maintaining the protectorate status. Unlike the Iljinhoe, Daehan Jaganghoe, and Daehan Association, the New People’s Association(신민회) aimed to ‘innovate Korea by Koreans.’ The New People’s Association, which was created by Koreans in the United States and domestic nationalist activists, tried to instill a ‘new spirit’ in Koreans and building a ‘new country’ on its own. It was an ‘autonomous modernization theory.’ The New People’s Association aimed for a republic based on the theory of national sovereignty along with campaigns to foster capabilities such as education, industry and business. In addition, when Japan’s movement to annex Korea by force became full-fledged, it decided to prepare for the war of independence by building independent military bases and military academies abroad. The ‘limited modernization’ pursued by the government in the early part of Daehan Empire disappeared along with the collapse of the Daehan Empire. However, the ‘colonial modernization’, ‘protectorate modernization’, ‘autonomous modernization’ pursued by civilian forces in the latter part of the Daehan Empire continued in a modified form under Japanese colonial rule.