충북 진천의 사례로 본 관료·지주층 주도 국채보상운동의 명(明)과 암(暗) (A Study on the Light and Shadow of the National Debt Repayment Movement Led by Bureaucrats and Landowners: Focusing on the Case of Jincheon in Chungcheongbuk-do)

서지정보

· 발행기관 : 한국독립운동사연구소
· 수록지 정보 : 한국독립운동사연구 / 90호 / 5 ~ 48페이지
· 저자명 : 이용철

초록

본 연구는 진천의 국채보상운동을 살펴본 것으로, 운동의 전개 양상, 의연자의 참여 경로와 규모, 운동을 주도한 관료·지주층의 참여 양태와 그것이 갖는 성격 등을 검토하였고, 특히 관료·지주층의 활동과 관련해서는 그들의 재산을 광무양안을 통해 추적해보았다. 진천의 국채보상운동에 대한최초의 연구이자, 광무양안을 접목했다는 점에서 연구사적으로, 또한 연구방법론적으로 의미를 갖는다.
진천은 신문 발간일을 기준으로 3월에 시작되어 10월까지 이어졌다. 총2,315명 이상이 운동에 참여하여 140,027.5전(1,400원 27전 5리)의 의연금이 수합되었으며, 운동의 최고조기는 5~6월이었다.
이 지역 운동의 가장 큰 특징은 전현직 관료이자 지역의 대지주들이 운동을 주도했다는 사실이다. 이들이 주축이 된 鎭川郡國債報償會義務會의활동으로 운동이 크게 확대되었고, 이들의 의연금은 진천지역 의연금의 상당 부분을 차지하고 있었다. 이는 이들이 전현직 관료로서 운동이 전국적으로 진행되는 과정에서 평판과 명망을 신경쓰지 않을 수 없었다는 것, 더나아가 동시기를 적자생존의 시대로 인식한 가운데 국가의 생존을 위해운동 참여·주도 필요성을 느꼈다는 것, 또한 경제적으로 대지주였다는 점에서 가능할 수 있었다. 다만 이들은 추후 독립운동을 적극적으로 이어나가지는 않았다.
하지만 진천은 인구가 적음에도 충북에서 가장 많은 의연자를 내고 있었다. 지역의 전현직 관료이자 대지주들이 운동을 추동한 경향성을 간과할수는 없겠으나, 어디까지나 이 같은 현상은 국망의 위기에 처한 국가의 국권 회복을 위해 빈한한 가세를 돌보지 않고 운동에 참여한 진천지역 주민들의 열성이 뒷받침된 결과였다.

영어초록

This study examines the National Debt Repayment Movement in the Jincheon area, focusing on the movement’s development, the participation routes and scale of contributors, and the patterns and characteristics of involvement by bureaucrats and landowners who led the movement.
Notably, the study traces the economic power of these leading figures by utilizing the Gwangmu Yangan records. This approach holds historical significance as no prior research had been conducted on Jincheon, despite it being the region with the highest number of participants in North Chungcheong Province. Furthermore, no studies had previously analyzed the economic power of the leading class by linking it with separate data sources.
The findings of the study can be summarized as follows: The movement in Jincheon began in March, based on newspaper publication dates, and continued until October. More than 2,315 people participated, raising a total of 1,400 won 27 jeon 5 ri in donations, with the movement peaking between May and June.
A key feature of the movement in Jincheon was the leadership of former and incumbent bureaucrats and major landowners. In May, the Jincheongun National Debt Repayment Association was established, primarily composed of these influential figures, which marked a turning point leading to the rapid spread of the movement. These leaders accounted for the majority of large-scale donations in the Jincheon area, making them the most significant contributors in terms of both leadership and financial support. This was likely because, as former and incumbent bureaucrats, they were conscious of their reputation and social standing during a nationwide movement. Additionally, they perceived the era as one of survival of the fittest, feeling a sense of duty to participate in and lead the movement for the nation’s survival. Their economic power as major landowners also enabled their substantial contributions.
However, when examining the subsequent actions of those who led the movement in Jincheon, a rather negative conclusion emerges regarding whether the National Debt Repayment Movement served as a foundation for further independence movements. Specifically, it is difficult to identify any clear participants who later engaged in independence activities. In fact, figures like Min Won-sik, who actively supported Japan’s forced annexation of Korea and became a symbol of pro-Japanese collaboration, were found to have played significant roles in the Jincheon movement.
However, despite its small population, Jincheon produced the highest number of donors in Chungcheongbuk-do. While the role of former and incumbent local officials and major landowners in driving the movement cannot be overlooked, this phenomenon was ultimately supported by the passionate commitment of Jincheon residents, who participated in the movement without regard for their own financial hardships in an effort to restore national sovereignty in the face of the country’s impending downfall.

참고자료

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