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Control Policy of Late Revitalizing Reform Political Power Regarding Church Organization:Centering Industrial Mission

  • The Review of Korean History
  • 2009, (95), pp.177-223
  • Publisher : The Historical Society Of Korea
  • Research Area : Humanities > History

장숙경 1

1성공회대학교

Accredited

ABSTRACT

In late Revitalizing Reform period, Park administration proclaimed Emergency Measure No. 9, emphasizing national security by advocating the danger of communization of the Korean Peninsula, following Indochina. Emergency Measure No. 9 stigmatized all actions against government policy as 'pro-communist', blockading any criticism on the system. Labor movement was one of them. Although Korean Labor Organization became more pro-government, Protestant industrial mission was an exception. The actions taken by them, the extremely small part of Protestant, were isolated from the overall current of administration-friendly Protestant through anti-communism. The industrial mission stood against the strong suppression by being the opposition of the government in addition to the enterprises and labor organization under protection of the administration with Develop First Distribute Later policy. They conscientized female workers through small group activities and supported labor movement. The strife of laborers to improve labor condition and establish democratic labor union gradually became systematized and intensified;developed the solidarity with distinguished men out of office as well as student movement. Park administration suppressed them in various ways as it was threatened by the continuous solidarity of labor movement and anti-system force. 'Pro-communist' was the justification for the government to attack the industrial mission. However, it was not so easy to condemn the industrial mission being pro-communist, for it was a missionary group of Protestant, which had been contributing much in the establishment of Revitalizing Reform system of anti-communist Park administration. Also, the global press including the United States could not be ignored, for the industrial mission was the project supported by World church and American church. Hence, Park Administration countermined Protestant force to attack the industrial mission. 1970s and 1980s was when Christianity was active as the main democratization force in Korean society. However, the Protestant conservative force took part in suppressing and condemning the industrial mission activities as pro-communist, using administration, collusion and theological theory for their profit and expansion of religious influence. Protestant conservative force here did not signify conservative association only. It consisted of all christian businessmen strongly rejecting the industrial mission taking the side of labor movement and laborers despite associations, as well as the force pursuing conservative theology in any association pretending to be progressive. Nevertheless, Park administration's plan to destroy the industrial mission by cornering it as pro-communist under cooperation with Protestant failed. Hence conflict arose within the association caused by this issue;the diplomatic relations with the United States advocating the world church and human rights diplomacy had to be considered. Ultimately, Park administration had to stop condemning the industrial mission being pro-communist and find a point of compromise, for the overall Protestant had to be dealt to maintain the Revitalizing Reform system.

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