탈냉전 초기 남북관계 인식의 분화와 갈등 -정부내 강온파 대립과 민간통일운동세력의 이원화 현상을 중심으로-

Abstract

The relationship between North-South Korea and the nature and characteristics of the unification movement during the Roh Tae-woo administration were analyzed from the perspective of coexistence and competition between the government and the civil sector. In the face of the post-Cold War era, the Roh administration implemented an active approach to North Korea by announcing the Northern Policy and the July 7th Declaration. A new milestone in inter-Korean relations was prepared by adopting the Inter-Korean Basic Agreement amid various inter-Korean dialogues, including inter-Korean high-level talks. In the Inter-Korean Basic Agreement, the peculiarities of inter-Korean relations were confirmed, and both South and North Korea joined the United Nations at the same time. However, the internal and external factors of the severance of inter-Korean relations were clearly revealed as the North Korea-US conflict due to the nuclear issue and the intentional attempt to break inter-Korean relations by the hardliners within the government were confirmed. In particular, the artificial hardening of inter-Korean relations by the hardliners toward North Korea is noteworthy in that it reflects the close connection with the presidential election strategy of conservative political forces. At the same time, civil discussions and movements for unification exploded, and inter-Korean exchange movements from all walks of life were attempted. A series of visits to North Korea, including the inter-Korean student talks movement and the claim to hold the inter-Korean joint Olympics, formed a major social issue. In addition, as interest in North Korea increased, a phenomenon called the “Know North Korea Movement” appeared. The argument of the conservative power, which maintained an authoritarian dictatorship under the pretext of anti-communism during the Cold War, began to be questioned, and intellectual curiosity increased about North Korea. The civilian unification movement was divided into more North Korean-friendly and critical organizations. The emergence of the Beomminlyeon, which emphasized the trilateral cooperation of South, North, and overseas compatriots, and the Saetongche, which emphasized the value of various domestic unification movements, was a confrontational structure reflecting the difference in perceptions of North Korea within the unification movement. The debate on unification of two types of civilian unification movements started to compete from within, forming a multi-layered structure. The government continued to maintain a tense relationship with the civil unification movement and tried to control the civil unification movement under the principle of the ‘unification of windows’. Therefore, it is understood that the post-Cold War era government and the civil sector have entered a new era in which they are conscious of each other, influence and compete with each other.