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Spy Discourse of Korea in 1960~70s

byoung joo hwang 1

1국사편찬위원회

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ABSTRACT

Since the establishment of the ROK in 1948, the South and the North have been under a hostile relationship that alternates between hot and cold wars amid the influence of the Cold War system in world history. A representative symbol of hostile system competition is a spy. However, the spy between the South and the North seems to be clear, but in fact, it is also ambiguous. The South and the North officially deny espionage. Therefore, spies are often unilateral claims by either side, and the spy discourse to make ambiguous spies a clear entity becomes important. Spy, in particular, served as a device to control South Koreans as a symbol of emphasizing North Korean threats. Under the Park Chung-hee regime’s strategy of public security in the 1960s and 1970s, espionage was a very important medium. The word “You’ll be a red if you talk too much,” which can be used to block critical discourse. In other words, while blocking critical discourse, the politics of discourse based on espionage was developed so that their words could have a truth effect. For example, he wanted to silence all criticism with a word of “spy-like sound.” The discourse on creating spies shows historical change. The image of an inhumane and cruel spy was created, and it needed to be watched carefully because they looks like ordinary people. In particular, the assertion that an extremely ordinary person could be a spy was also a device that could make all residents watch each other. As social differentiation progressed, the variety of spies increased. In other words, all classes existing in society have become potential spies. In particular, economic espionage also emerged as economic development began in earnest. Amid this trend, the reward system for residents who cooperated in reporting and arresting spies will also be newly reorganized, giving them huge amounts of money. In addition, as exchanges with the world expand, spies also expand to the world. Not only Korean-Japanese spies but also Korean students and residents in Europe used to become spies. Spies eventually become involved with the exclusion strategy of our society. The public security-ruling discourse on spies involves the socio-engineering view that a safe and sound society should be created, excluding disparate elements such as various non-nationals, anti-social beings and minorities. In short, we would like to look into how the ruling order of our society works through the discussion of spies.

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