민족정체성, 그리고 한민족의 민족정체성 = National Identity and the Identity of Korean Nation

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

The identity of Hanminjok is a very controversial and ambiguous theme. Its historical origin and range are the questions under debate. Moreover there are many critical evaluations around national identity. In recent years post modernists insist that the national identity is the invented tradition, which was built up by the modern governmental power or the romantic nationalists with the purpose of national integration and state building. More numerous anti-nationalists asserts that national identity is a dangerous and harmful mechanism for world peace. Of course for these opinions many objections are exist. This article examines some basic problems which must be dealed before the full-scale study on the identity of Hanminjok, the Korean nation. The interests of this paper will be summarized as following 3. (1) The first question is what is the concept and meaning of identity and national identity. As the national identity is a kind of identity, this paper starts the discussion with the meaning of identity. (2) The second question is why the national identity is necessary for mankind. This paper examines the disputes on nationalism because the national identity has inseparable ralation with nationalism. (3) The third question is who is the Korean nation and how can we define the identity of Hanminjok. This paper discusses the origin of the term of Hanminjok and examines the ethnical, cultural, linguistic and historical character of Hanminjok. Hanminjok`s sense of collective identity in Korean history is also checked.