민(民) 개념의 변화와 한국정치주체의 변동

Abstract

"Min," meaning "people" which is a main group of democracy today, originally meant "slaves." "Baeksung(many people)" meant the ruled and the uneducated. The two words shows that common people in Korean -- and Asian as well -- traditional thought had been disregarded. Although there were the concepts of "Wimin" which means that "people must be loved" and "Minbon" which means that "people is fundamental," their basic ideas were not to respect people but to make them easily ruled and justify a coup d'etat. As modern period began, position of "people" was promoted and constitutional polity, which implied a rule of king and people together, was suggested by some intellectuals. The word "Inmin" implying more equal relations between the ruler and the ruled was used more frequently than before. "People's rights" was also emphasized, but it was restricted to protect individuals' life and property, not to guarantee the rights of collective opposition of people. "Kukmin," which meaning was similar to "nation," began to be used for describing people's patriotism and arguing their participation in politics. The idea of "kukmin" was more emphasized among Korean people as Japanese showed their greed to colonize Korea. Although the word was also used by Japanese rulers to mobilize Korean people, it was more accented by Korean leaders of independence movement to restore Korean sovereignty and establish a new Korean republic. As a result, republicanism and democracy became main political ideologies of March 1 Independent Movement and Korean provisional government.