호소이 하지메(細井肇)의 조선 인식과 ‘제국의 꿈’

Hosoi Hajime’s Recognition of Joseon and the ‘Dream of Empire’

The purpose of this study is to examine Hosoi Hajime’s(1886~1934) ideas and works related to ‘Joseon Issues’ during the time of the Japanese Empire. In his great efforts to incorporate ‘Joseon Issues’ into his own life, Hajime’s knowledge and activities concerning these issues can be summarized in three points: 1) He identified himself as a son of the Empire of Japan; he regarded the growth of Japan as his own growth. At this time Japan was in the process of establishing its Empire, while rest of the world was experiencing the era of imperialism led mainly by Western nations. 2) Based on his ideals, he dreamed about and also pursued strategies for managing ‘the Empire of Japan’ more effectively, in order to achieve its grand aims. He believed that it was necessary for Japan to dominate Joseon in order to establish the Empire of Japan in Asia. To better serve this end, he suggested a broader category of ‘the People of Empire Japan’ and a smaller category of ‘ethnic Joseons’; this, he believed, would serve to emotionally assimilate the people Joseon into the Japanese empire. His analysis of the Korean independent movement shows that his idea was to secure Joseon as a colony without using oppression or coercion. Hosoi Hajime emphasized sympathy with Joseon people, as he identified himself a ‘Common Person’. But previous studies have pointed out that he was a representative example of an intellectual who was against Joseon, and who despised it. In fact, he criticized the traditional rulers both in Joseon and Japan. 3) His strategies were put into practice after the Great Kanto earthquake of 1923. The crucial reason for that tragedy, he believed, was hatred between Japanese and Joseon people, and it was regarded as an important event which might bring on the collapse of ‘the Empire of Japan’. He appealed to the Japanese to treat Joseon people favorably, encouraging deep understanding of Joseon without discrimination. In 1931, when Manchukuo (Manchuria) was established, he also suggested that Asia should unify against the Western Empires by emphasizing that Japan, Joseon, Manchuria, and China were a culturally homogeneous nation. What he eventually wanted to accomplish through this suggestion was to build up ‘the Empire of Japan’ and make Japan the leader of Asia, so as to fulfill Japan’s politics of humanity and justice.