<論説>大韓帝国期における愛国婦人会の設置過程 --日本の韓国統治と在韓居留民--

Abstract

本稿は一九〇一年に日本で設立された愛国婦人会の韓国進出過程やその性格を、日本による韓国の保護国化の過程と在韓居留民の動向に注目して解明するものである。愛国婦人会は日露戦争への軍事援護を目的に韓国に進出する際、その必要を痛感していた在韓居留民の協力を得て海外委員部を置いた。終戦後、韓国の保護国化に合わせて同会の韓国支部が設置されると、会員の中心は、在韓居留民から、統監府や理事庁の職員など統治権力側の夫人に代わった。さらに、韓国人閣僚の夫人も入会できるようになったため、韓国支部は統監府の韓国統治に貢献するため、日韓婦人の「交際」を奨励する。その後、義兵闘争が勃発すると、韓国支部はそれを鎮圧する日本軍への援護を再開するが、義兵が日本人と韓国人閣僚の双方を攻撃対象としたため、日韓の会員は義兵に対する危機意識を共有しながら軍事援護に従事することで、相互の「交際」を深めていった。

This article addresses and further elucidates the character and process of the advance into Korea of the Patriotic Women's Association, which had been established in 1901 in Japan, as well as the process of the tightening of the grip of Japanese rule on the Great Korean Empire and the activities of Japanese settlers in Korea. With the outbreak of the Russo-Japanese War in 1904, Korea became a battleground and the Patriotic Women's Association entered Korea in order to aid the Japanese armed forces. Following the opening of Korean ports, many Japanese had emigrated to take advantage of economic activities and had formed settlers' community. The settlers residing in Korea believed that the security of their unstable lives in a foreign land would be protected by the Japanese military. Because of this, when the Patriotic Women' s Association entered Korea, it received the cooperation of Japanese settlers in Korea who strongly felt the need of the protection of the armed forces, and overseas office were established throughout Korea. As a result of the Japanese victory in the Russo-Japanese War, the Great Korean Empire became a protectorate under the control of Japan. The Patriotic Women's Association was reorganized in accordance with the Great Korean Empire becoming a protectorate, and the overseas offices that had previously been established in Korea were elevated to status of the Korea Branch. Simultaneous with the establishment of the Korea Branch, many wives of the staff of the Japanese Residency-General and Administrative Bureau that had newly been established as organs of the ruling authority joined the Korea Branch, becoming the core of the organization as it shifted from wives of settlers to those of the ruling authorities. Moreover, as the Women' s Patriotic Association allowed Korean women to join the organization, the wives of Korean government ministers also began to join the Korea Branch. Even prior to the Great Korean Empire becoming a protectorate, Japan had in order to expand its political influence promoted a plan to foster Korean cabinet ministers who were friendly toward Japan and would cooperate with Japanese rule. This plan was not limited to Korean cabinet ministers but was also aimed at their wives. Prior to the Great Korean Empire becoming a protectorate, the wives of officials stationed in the diplomatic establishments in Korea played a central role in developing relationships with the wives of the Korean ministers. As a result of this deepening relationship between Japanese and Korean women, Japanese and Korean women had made plans to establish a women's association in which both could participate. On that occasion, the Patriotic Women's Association become involved in planning the establishment of the association. In other words, it be said these relationships between Japanese and Korean women were behind the establishment of the Korea branch. Because of this the Japanese Residency-General encouraged efforts to build exchanges between Japanese and Korean women in the Korea Branch, and the Patriotic Women's Association began to promote exchanges between Japanese and Korean women as a means of contributing to the rule of Korean by the Residency- General. In order to expand exchange activities between Japanese and Korean women that had previously occurred chiefly in Seoul, the Korea Branch hosted activities throughout Korea. As a result, many Japanese and Korean women were to join the Korea Branch. However, what influenced the increase in the membership of the Korea Branch was not only the activities of exchange between Japanese and Korean women, but also the continued necessity of aid for military. When Japanese rule over the protectorate began, the Righteous Army of Resistance erupted in opposition, and the Japanese military and police became engaged in suppressing it. Because of this, the Korea Branch reinstituted its assistance to the Japanese military and police. The Korean Army of Resistance attacked Japanese indiscriminately, and because the Japanese settlers felt that their lives and property were threatened, they continued their cooperation with the Korea Branch as before. Furthermore, because the Korean Righteous Army attacked not only Japanese, but also Korean cabinet ministers who collaborated with the Japanese, the wives of Korean government ministers also participated in aiding the military. Therefore, both the Japanese and Korean members of the Korea Branch shared a sense of danger and engaged in aiding the military and their mutual exchanges deepened. In this way, by struggling to aid the military and conduct mutual exchange activities, the Patriotic Women's Association became deeply rooted in Korean society.