19세기 말 ∼ 20세기 초 ‘위핍자살(威逼自殺)’의 실태와 행위 양식-규장각 소장 검안 자료를 중심으로- (Cases and types of “Voluntarily Taking One’s life, as a result of being Harassed(Wipib Jasal, 威逼自殺)” in the late 19th and early 20th centuries -Examination of the Geoman(Autopsy) documents currently i)

서지정보

· 발행기관 : 한국역사연구회
· 수록지 정보 : 역사와 현실 / 120호 / 187 ~ 229페이지
· 저자명 : 오승관

초록

본 논문은 조선시대 특유의 자살 담론인 위핍자살의 존재를 밝히고, 위핍자살을 둘러싼 당시 사람들의 행위 양식을 조명한다. 위핍자살은 『대명률』 ‘위핍인치사(威逼人致死)’ 조항에 따라 규정되는 자살 담론이다. 위핍인치사는 타인을 위세로 핍박하여 죽게 한 살인죄를 다루는 법률 조항이다. 그러나 위핍인치사가 적용되려면, 피해자는 반드시 자살해야 했다. 그러므로 당시 사람들은 자살 사건이 발생하면 자살의 책임이 있는 가해자를 찾으려고 노력했다. 규장각 소장 검안 자료에서 발견되는 자살은 위핍인치사의 가해자를 가리는 과정을 보여주는데, 본 논문은 이러한 자살의 양상을 위핍자살로 규정하였다.
이어서 위핍자살의 실태를 분석했는데, 그 기준으로 자살한 사람과 가해자의 관계, 위핍의 구체적인 양상을 제시했다. 위핍자살은 남성 가해자에 의한 남성 자살이 가장 많았으며, 여성 가해자에 의한 남성 자살이 가장 적었다. 위핍의 양상은 가족이 폭행을 당하는 간접적인 행위까지 포함될 정도로 다양했다.
한편, 위핍자살을 둘러싼 당시 사람들의 행위 양식도 다루었다. 위핍자살은 가해자가 있다는 것이 특징인데, 당시 사람들도 이를 인식하고 있었다. 당시 사람들은 위핍자살이 발생하면, 그 시신을 가해자의 집에 옮겨 두었는데, 이는 가해자를 지목하는 행위였다. 더 나아가 자살을 시도하는 사람이 직접 가해자의 집에 가서 자살하기도 했는데, 이는 위핍자살의 독특한 행위 양식이었다.

영어초록

Highlighted in this article is a unique form (and notion) of a suicidal action that prevailed in the Joseon society known as “Suicide by Harassment(Wipib Jasal),” as well as certain behavioral patterns displayed by the Joseon people who were involved in such tragic incidents. This particular social phenomenon was referred to in a legal clause entitled “Harassment leading to a loss of life(Wipibin Chisa, 威逼人致死)” inside Daemyeong’ryul(大明律, The Great Ming Law), and notions concerning this very phenomenon was also formed on the basis of this clause, which was essentially inserted in the law code to deal with murder cases in which an individual would harass another with his or her power, and eventually drive that person to its own demise.
But in order for this particular clause to be invoked, the victim had to have taken his or her own life, on his or her own. This led to the people of the time trying to ascertain the offender responsible for the victim’s death, whenever a case of suicide would occur. The Geoman(Autopsy) reports currently in custody of the Gyujanggak archives show us the process of authorities trying to find out and determine the offender responsible for the tragic outcome. In this article, suicides caused by external harassment is defined as “Wipib” suicides, as in “suicide by harassment.” Analysis of the Wipib suicides reveal certain patterns, interestingly in terms of the relationship between the offender and the victim, as well as a variety of fashions from a number of cases. Cases showing male offenders and male victims seem to be the most prominent types, and of female offenders and male victims are the least noticable types. Relevant cases also display ‘additional violence,’ with offenders harassing not only the victim but the victim’s family members as well.
Behaviors of people involved in Wipib suicide cases also reveal interesting aspects of the people’s attitude toward such cases. As mentioned earlier, Wipib suicide was a type of suicide which always involved an offender responsible for the victim resorting to killing oneself, and such fact was clearly on the people’s minds. Whenever a Wipib suicide would take place, people would move the victim’s body to the place of the (suspected) offender, as a gesture and an effective act of pointing to the individual responsible for the tragedy. In fact, a person planning to take one’s life would even kill oneself at the offender’s place, making this type of suicide all the more peculiar and unique.

참고자료

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