첫 여성 법조인 이태영의 시대 인식 확장과 자전적 통찰

Tai-Young Lee and Her Journey for Gender Equality and Social Justice in Korea : Christianity and Constitution

이 연구는 평생을 차별과 편견에 맞서며 ‘만인 평등’이라는 헌법적 가치를 실현하고자 애썼던 여성 법조인 이태영의 삶과 신념, 시대인식을 들여다본다. 이태영의 삶은 크게 4시기로 구분되며, 기독교를 통해 배운 만인 평등 사상이 삶 전체를 관통한다. 성장기 성차별에 대한 문제 의식을 갖게했고, 해방 후 첫 여성 법조인으로서 여성의 법적 권리를 위한 여성 운동에 나서게 했다. 이 과정에서 여성의 고통은 가정의 고통으로 이어지고 사회문제로 연결된다는 사실에 주목하게 되었다. 동시에 불의한 권력이 지배하는 사회의 억압구조 안에서는 만인 평등을 보장한 헌법이 제대로 작동할 수 없으며 어떤 개인도 인간으로서의 존엄성을 온전히 보장받지 못한다는 결론에 이르게 되었다. 이는 민주화 운동의 합류로 이어졌고, 인권 변호사로 활동하도록 만들었다. 한마디로 인간은 누구나 평등하게 태어난다는 기독교의 가르침을 ‘법’이라는 ‘사회적 도구’를 통해 실현하고자 했던 것이 여성 법조인 이태영이 선택한 삶이었다. 동시에 법조인이었지만 법조인에 머무르지 않고, 여성 운동가였지만 여성 운동에 머무르지 않고, 기독교인이었지만 기독교의 틀에 갇히지 않았던 열린 신념은 그가 ‘만인 평등’이라는 인류의 보편가치에 얼마나 충실했는지 잘 보여준다.

This study aims to explore Tai-Young Lee’s Christian inspiration and her pioneering journey for gender equality and social justice in Korea. Her life and journey show the trajectory of the Korean civil movement, especially for women and suffering people. Her life had four stages. The Christian inspiration for human dignity and gender equality penetrated her entire life. In her young age, it made her pay attention to prejudice and discrimination against women. Although no woman was allowed to study law, she had a dream to be a good lawyer in order to fulfill gender equality and human dignity under the Japanese colonial rule. Her dream came true after Japan’s defeat in 1945. As the first female lawyer Tai- Young Lee started revising the Family Law in accordance with the Constitution that stipulated equality for all. This journey lasted for 40 years in support of Christian groups and women’s networks. In this process, she became convinced that family was a basis not only for gender equality and women’s rights but also for better society and world peace. Simultaneously, she realized that the women’s movement could not be separated the from human rights movement under the years of brutal dictatorship. This was the reason why she jumped into the democracy movement in solidarity with the progressive religious leaders who were open-minded to ecumenical movements for freedom and peace. Throughout her entire life, Tai-Young Lee was faithful to the Christian belief that all were equal to God. She dedicated her enthusiasm and energy to the restoration of human dignity and social integration. For her law was a social tool to fulfill the commitment for equality and dignity that was given to human beings by God. Her belief empowered social responsibility and solidarity for suffering people. This contributed to promoting the progress of civil society in Korea.