1895~1896년 『太陽』을 통해서 본 일본의 조선인식 ― 朝鮮獨立扶植에서 利益貫徹로 ―

Abstract

This article aims at disclosing Japanese perception of Chosun Korea in 1895 and the following year. For the purpose, the author analyzes the contemporary mass publication Taiyo which was the top selling magazine in 1896 and head great variety of readers in modern Japan. The magazine was major channel of spreading the informations on the Japanese policies on Chosun and even had active role in forming Japanese opinions on Chosun. Japanese policy of making Chosun her protectorate had become serious after Sino-Japanese War - ended in April 1895 - but at the same time, Western intervention into Chosun had also begun seriously. Japan confronted this situation by promoting Chosun’s domestic reformation under Japanese influence and supported these policies by emphasizing Chosun’s incompetency and corruption. Thus an image of Japan as helper for Chosun rose and it gave basis for Japan’s trial of taking initiative in Chosun-related matters. King`s Flight to Russian Legation happened in February 1896 made Russia’s influence firm and clear and Japanese one weaker, simultaneously. This incident forced Japan to change her goal from claiming herself as the only dominant foreign state in Korean Peninsula to establishing Japan as important actor as Russia in the country. Corresponding to this change, the image of Chosun as a protectorate of Japan stepped backward and an image of the country whose resources are to be won by Japan rose to front. The author concludes that in 1895 and in the following year, the image of Chosun had changed from the one to be helped by Japan to the one to serve Japanese economic profits, and that King`s Flight to Russian Legation in 1896 brought about this change.