조선의 ‘식민지 근대’에 관한 최근의 논의에 대해서 - 일본의 문맥에서 -

Abstract

This paper discusses the analytical framework on “colonial modernity” in Korea from the viewpoint of “simultaneity”, as discussed by the Japanese Marxist economist Uno Kozo (宇野弘蔵). Firstly, regarding the “debate on Japanese capitalism" during the 1930's, Uno focused on the simultaneous hegemonic influence of the advanced capitalist states on the late-developing capitalist states within the world capitalist system. Relying on the framework of “simultaneity", he placed the particularity of Japanese capitalism within the materiality of late-developing capitalism. Secondly, the literature on “colonial modernity” in Korea discusses various topics such as the modern discipline apparatus, mass media, and mass culture. The emergence of these modern apparatus and institutions in colonial Korea can be regarded as a phenomenon occuring simultaneously with those in the core of the world capital system. In this sense, the analytical framework of simultaneity by Uno is applicable to “colonial modernity” in Korea. Thirdly, by applying Prof. Uno’s analytical framework to the discussion on “colonial modernity”, the following points can be made. Firstly, the Koreans who could actually experience and enjoy these modern apparatus and institutions represented a minority in colonial Korean society. Secondly, the majority of people, while living their everyday lives in the conventional manner, could have the opportunity to encounter signs and fragments of modernity, and they could share in the desire for modernity. Thirdly, modernity exercised its hegemonic influence over the colonial Korean society broadly in this way. Lastly, the above-mentioned framework is a type of morphological approach. This framework should be improved by emphasizing viewpoints on the violence of discrimination by the Japanese ruling power against the Koreans as the essence of the colonial rule.