구한말 순헌황귀비 엄비의 생애와 활동 = Empress Um's Life and Activities in the Last Chosun Dynasty

국문 초록 (Abstract)

본 연구는 구한말 고종의 계비였던 엄황귀비의 생애와 활동에 대해 고찰한 것이다. 그녀는 문벌이나 지위의 도움 없이 자신의 책략과 기민한 행동으로써 여성 최고의 지위에 오른 뒤 근대적 여성교육을 위해 적극 노력했던 인물이다. 그녀는 자신의 정치력과 대담성을 바탕으로 아관파천에 결정적인 기여를 했고, 자신의 아들을 대한제국의 황태자로 책봉받게 함으로써 사실상의 국모에 버금가는 자리에까지 오른 입지전적인 여성이었다.
엄상궁은 5세에 궁녀로 입궁하여 내전상궁이 되었고, 민비를 가까이에서 모시다가 고종의 승은을 입었다. 그러나 민비의 질투로 1885년에 궁궐 밖으로 쫓겨났다가 1895년에 을미사변으로 민비가 시해 당하자 곧 바로 고종의 부름을 받아 재입궁 하였다. 다시 입궁한 엄상궁이 수행한 가장 큰 정치적 역할은 아관파천으로, 근왕세력들과 손을 잡고 고종과 세자를 러시아 공사관으로 안전하게 도피시키는데 결정적인 역할을 하였다. 그녀는 러시아 공사관에서 고종의 숙식을 전담하고 정신적으로도 고종에게 위안을 제공하며 근왕세력의 중심으로 성장하였다. 그리고 고종의 아들을 잉태하고 대한제국의 선포와 때를 같이 하여 영친왕 은을 낳음으로써 정식 후궁인 귀인에 책봉 되었고, 이후 순빈 → 순비 → 황귀비로 승격되었다.
왕비가 없는 상황에서 엄비는 왕비나 다름없는 지위를 가졌으며 공식적 비공식적인 임무를 수행해 나갔다. 그녀는 특히 시대적인 요구를 잘 파악하여 여성교육이 무엇보다도 절실하다는 것을 알고 이에 많은 관심을 가졌다. 그녀는 인재양성에 뜻을 두고 사재를 들여 양정의숙을 지원하는가 하면 진명여학교와 숙명여학교의 전신인 명신 여학교를 창설하였다. 이외에도 수시로 교원들과 학생들에게 필요한 경비와 학용품을 지원해 주었고, 사회활동과 자선활동을 통해 여성의 역할을 확대해 나갔다.
그러나 1907년 헤이그밀사사건으로 인해 고종이 강제로 왕위에서 물러나고 영친왕이 유학이라는 명목으로 일본에 끌려감으로써 인간적인 시련을 겪었다. 결국 1911년 여름 일본이 내세운 공식적인 병명은 장티푸스였으나 실제는 14살의 영친왕이 고된 군사훈련을 받으며 주먹밥을 먹는 활동사진을 보다가 감정이 북받친 나머지 가슴이 막혀서 58세의 나이로 숨을 거두었다. 구한말 격동기에 엄황귀비가 수행했던 많은 정치적, 사회적 역할은 이후 여성의 근대화와 사회적 활동에 큰 영향을 끼쳤으며 여성발전에 초석을 다져놓았다.

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

This study is on the life and activities of Empress Um, who was Emperor Gojong's second wife in the last years of the Dae Han Empire. She was a person who reached the highest position as a woman without the help of lineage or position, relying only on her strategy and agility. As an empress, she endeavored for women's modern education. Empress Um used her political powers, acting as the key player for A'gwan pa cheon, and succeeded in formally installing her son as the last Crown Prince of the Dae Han Empire, effectively raising her position to the mother of the nation.
Court Lady Um entered the palace at the age of 5, and served Empress Minh in the Inner Palace. However, Gojong became interested in Um, and called upon her to spend a night with him, which brought up Empress Mirth's envy and hatred towards Um. In 1885, Um was banned from the palace, and could not return until 1895, when Empress Minh was murdered during Eul'mi Sabyeon. Immediately after Empress Minh's death, Gojong called for the return of Um, and she returned to the palace. After her re-entry, she became a key political figure through A'gwan pacheon, executed in 1896. Court Lady Um joined forces with parties that were loyal to the king, and played the key role in Gojong and the Crown Prince's safe escape to the Russian Embassy. During the King's refugee in the Russian Embassy, Um acted as the closest aide to Kojong, providing relief and willpower to the King during the difficult times, while also rising to the center of the loyal party. It was during this time that she conceived Kojong's son. On the day of the declaration of the Dae Han Empire, she delivered Eun, who would become King Youngchin. With the birth of the a prince, she became a formal royal concubine, and her status kept rising, from Soon'bin (concubine) → Soon'bi (deputy queen) → Hwangguibi (Empress).
As the place of queen was vacant, soon'bi Um held the status of queen, and executed formal and informal activities as the first lady. She was especially keen on understanding the needs of the times, and knew that providing education for women was more important than anything else. She was very interested in education for women, and placed great priority in raising human resources. In 1906, Empress Um put down her private funds to establish Jin Myung Women's School and Myung Shin Women's School, which would become Sook Myung Women's School. She also supported Yang'jeong Eui'sook with much needed funds, as it had been experiencing operational difficulties. She also supported teachers and students with funds and school supplies, and expanded the role of women through social activities and charity.
However, Empress Um experienced much grief and difficulties after the Hague Envoy Incident in 1907, which brought upon the dethronement of Gojong. Her son King Youngchin was taken away to Japan under the name of abroad studies, which added greatly to her sorrow. In the summer of 1911, she died at the age of 58, from the shock and sorrow of seeing photos of her14 year-old son going through harsh military training. However, the life of Empress Um during the times of rapid change in the Dae Han Empire, and the many social/political activities that she practiced, greatly affected the modernization and activities of Korean women, and provided a building stone.

참고문헌 (Reference)

1 "한국여성정치사회사" 2004b

2 "한국 근대여성운동사 연구 한국정신문화연구원" 1984

3 "운명의 20년" 조선일보 2004

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8 "숙명100년사 1" 현암사 -1, 2006

9 "송우혜"마지막 황태자"" 3-, 1998

10 "명성황후와 대한제국" 효형출판사 2001

11 "대한제국말기 여성운동의 성격 연구" 1989

12 "대한제국 정치사 연구" 서울대 출판부 2003

13 "꼬레아 꼬레아니" 숲과나무 1996

14 "_ 한국여성연구소" 이화여대 출판부 1979

15 "This study is on the life and activities of Empress Um who was Emperor Gojong's second wife in the last years of the Dae Han Empire She was a person who reached the highest position as a woman without the help of lineage or position relying only on her strategy and agility As an empress she endeavored for women's modern education Empress Um used her political powers acting as the key player for A'gwan pa cheon and succeeded in formally installing her son as the last Crown Prince of the Dae Han Empire effectively raising her position to the mother of the nation"

16 "Empress Um’s Life and Activities in the Last Chosun Dynasty"

17 "Empress Um experienced much grief and difficulties after the Hague Envoy Incident in 1907 which brought upon the dethronement of Gojong Her son King Youngchin was taken away to Japan under the name of abroad studies which added greatly to her sorrow In the summer of 1911 she died at the age of 58 from the shock and sorrow of seeing photos of her 14 year-old son going through harsh military training the life of Empress Um during the times of rapid change in the Dae Han Empire and the many social/political activities that she practiced"

18 "Empress Um experienced much grief and difficulties after the Hague Envoy Incident in 1907 which brought upon the dethronement of Gojong Her son King Youngchin was taken away to Japan under the name of abroad studies which added greatly to her sorrow In the summer of 1911 she died at the age of 58 from the shock and sorrow of seeing photos of her 14 year-old son going through harsh military training the life of Empress Um during the times of rapid change in the Dae Han Empire and the many social/political activities that she practiced"

19 "Department of Korean History in Sookmyung Women’s University"

20 "Court Lady Um entered the palace at the age of 5 and served Empress Minh in the Inner Palace Gojong became interested in Um and called upon her to spend a night with him which brought up Empress Minh's envy and hatred towards Um Um was banned from the palace and could not return until 1895 when Empress Minh was murdered during Eul'mi Sabyeon Immediately after Empress Minh's death Gojong called for the return of Um and she returned to the palace she became a key political figure through A'gwan pacheon executed in 1896 Court Lady Um joined force"

21 "As the place of queen was vacant soon'bi Um held the status of queen and executed formal and informal activities as the first lady She was especially keen on understanding the needs of the times and knew that providing education for women was more important than anything else She was very interested in education for women and placed great priority in raising human resources Empress Um put down her private funds to establish Jin Myung Women's School and Myung Shin Women's School She also supported Yang'jeong Eui'sook with much neede"

22 "1903년 嚴妃 皇貴妃 進封과 (淳妃)進封皇貴妃儀軌"" 규장각 규장각소장 의궤 해제집 2. 서울대 규장각. : 2004