한국 농정(農政)의 철학적 분석과 새로운 패러다임(paradigm)의 설계

A Philosophical Analysis and Design of a New Paradigm of the Rural Policies in Korea

In the situation of rapid industrialization based on the lopsided development of economy since 1960, Korean rural society has faced a crisis of disruption. As a result, the civilian government has tried a few actions to change the circumstance. However, it is said that the rural polices were not satisfactory. Those who were concerned with the rural problems of these days argue that it is necessary to adopt new policies and further to change the policymakers' philosophies concerning the matter. The arguments are certainly based on the beliefs that the sound policies come from the sound philosophies. This study aims to analyze the existing rural polices and their policymakers' philosophies and to design of a new paradigm. For the purpose, this study was set there specific objectives: First, to overview the major points of Quantitative Utilitarianism of Jeremy Bentham and the Social Justice Theory of John Rawls, the contrasting frameworks of the moral philosophies; Second, to trace the major or trends of the rural policies since 1960s in Korea; Third, to analyze the policymakers' philosophies reflected on the rural policies; Fourth, to design a new paradigm of the rural policies. This study mainly adopted descriptive method based on the various source of government and non-government statistics, white papers and other researches. The major findings of this study may be summarized as follows: 1. The historical epochs of the rural policies in Korea was divided into the periods: (1) An organizational and institutional establishment for self-reliance of main crops and the New Village Movement (1969∼70); (2) An initiation of 'open-door' policies to the foreign farm products (1970∼80); (3) Completion of the UR meetings and the recommendations of the Rural and Fishery Development Commission (1980-present). 2. It was found that the philosophical foundations of rural policies were directly reflected from the utilitarianism of the national development. Under the philosophy it was the modern sector of economy that was to spearhead the national development, and the rural sector was situated to the peripheral position and hardly in the spot-light. Therefore, it may be said that the present situation of the rural society was largely rooted in the model of economic development. 3. As a new direction of the rural policies, many studies were focussing on the NTC (non-trade concerns) functions of agriculture for the present and future society. The researchers argue that the cost of protecting and supporting agriculture and rural society may be higher than that of the burden which the nation should be bear in the case of failure of agriculture. Although it may be true, however, it should be noted that the argument is another type of utilitarianism which prevailed in the past. As a philosophy of rural policies, utilitarianism is straight forward and persuasive, however, it has also limitations in terms of relativism in broad sense or social justice in specific manner. 4. This study suggests to set the philosophical foundations of rural policies on the basis of Rawl's Theory of Justice mentioned earlier. It emphasizes the inviolability of social justice which was neglected for the national benfits during the period of development dictatorship in 1960s and 1970s. The principles of social justice for rural people were identified as twofold; (1) The principle of the greatest equal liberty; (2) ⓐ Difference principle, ⓑ The principle of fair equality of opportunity.