This paper is to examine the nation-state building in Korean modern history focusing on the sovereign power. Most researches has often regarded the sovereign power as an obstacle to nation-state building. But as Korean history has maintained several c...
This paper is to examine the nation-state building in Korean modern history focusing on the sovereign power. Most researches has often regarded the sovereign power as an obstacle to nation-state building. But as Korean history has maintained several centralized dynasties for fifteen centuries and more, the sovereign of Korea after the Kabo Reform could function as a powerful centripetal force in nation-state building based on that ""proto-nationalistic"" loyalty.
lnitially, the principles of state building introduced in the Kabo Reform was to restrict the sovereign power to the extreme and create a new type of homogeneous people that were supposed to be loyal to the sovereign and patriotic to the state at the Same time. For that purpose, several projects were carried out: the establishment and proclamation of independent state power, the restriction of the sovereign power and introduction of a cabinet system, the abolishment of status system, publishment of newspapers, population census, and so forth.
As the extreme restriction of the sovereign power endangered the privileged status of the Enlightenment Group members into danger, they could not but restore the sovereign power in nation-state building after the King's flight to Russian Legation in February, 1896. Hence, it happened that the leading group of the Independence Club pursued a constitutional monarchy, while the Emperor an absolute monarchy. The desire of the Independence Club, however, broke down, as it was disorganized by the Emperor's Guards.
The policies of sovereign power build-up after 1899 brought a Korean-version of ""Bonapartism"" into existence. But, it frustrated the nation-state building project because it reduced the sovereign power into a private dimension, as the political and social power group exploited and suppressed the people. Hence, it created a ""subject"" which had only an obligation of loyalty and obedience without the rights to life and property, so that it was only natural that Korean people failed to unite as a nation in protest against the Japan's invasion. After the Russo-Japanese war, as a corollary, some crucial agendas of several politica1 groups that asserted the constitutional monarchy, ""spouted"" from the desire to deny this sovereign power.