Socio-political Trends and Local Elite of the Dangjin Area in Late Modern Times

Abstract

In Dangjin-gun, the Deoksu Yi, Jeonju Yi, Cheongju Han, Neungseong Gu, and Hansan Yi clans were relatively powerful in the Joseon Era. In addition, several clans among the common people were growing on the basis of economic power in the late Joseon Era. In modern times, clans who adopted the new learning (modern sciences) actively made remarkable developments. On the other hand, those who did not were on the decline. For example, the Gyodong Yin, Milyang Son, and Neungseong Gu clans made remarkable developments. The Gyodong Yin clan produced many great landlords, capitalists, high-class officers, etc. The Milyang Son, Neungseong Gu, Milyang Bak, and Gigye Yu clans appeared as leading figures on an economic basis. These clans actively accepted new learning, actively coped with exporting rice to Japan, and appeared as small, medium, or big landlords. Moreover, these people cooperated with the Joseon Government-General with a certain degree in the growing process.<BR> In the Colonial Era. Dangjin was divided into three districts: Dangjin-myeon, Hapdeok-myeon, and Myeoncheon-myeon. Dangjin-rnyeon was a political center while the Hapdeok district was an economic and social-movement center. In the Hapdeok district, Sinpyeong, Beomcheon, and Hapdeok-myeons were considered the most active places for youth and tenant farming movements in Chungnam. Most social movement leaders in Dangjin-gun were born in a middle (or lower) class and educated in a new school system. They lead youth, tenant farming, co-op, and Singanhoe movements. These social movement activists played a role in cooperation with the Seoul Youth Association group. Some Cheondogyo (Religion of the Heavenly Way) and Christian believers participated in the movements. However, police oppression continually collapsed the movements.<BR> When the Preparatory Committee for Founding Joseon and the People’s Committee were formed after the liberation from Japan, the leading figures included many socialists from Hapdeok and its vicinity. For instance, Bae Giyeong was one of them. After the United States Administration of Military Government in Korea (USAMGIK) gained power, they were arrested. Rightists who were fostered by the USAMGIK, such as right-wing youth organizations and parties, held power with the police. When the Korean War broke out, leftists dominated Dangjin temporarily. But the leftists’ world lasted only for two months. During the war, the bloody revenge starting from the murder of the Bodo Federation (Anti-Communism Group) claimed many victims. Both leftists and rightists were affected. Especially in the Hapdeok district many socialists, Cheondogyo believers, and Christians were affected. In addition, the Milyang Son clan of Godae-myeon, the Gyodong Yin clan of Seokmun-myeon, and the Neungseong Gu clan were affected to a considerable degree.<BR> Newly emerging clans in late Modern times still showed strength. In the 1950s, after the Korean War, Yin Taesik from the Yin clan was elected congressman consecutively in the 3rd and the 4th Parliamentary Elections. Son Yongbok from the Son clan was the chief of Godae-myeon for 14 years. Bak families who were big landlords in Hapdeok kept the position of myeon chief all through the 1950s.<BR> There were a considerable number of local elites who became myeon-clerks, chiefs, and members of the Provincial Council after the Japanese Colonial Era or who became members of the right youth associations, myeon chiefs, or the Provincial Council. Most of them were born common people, especially to the farmer and trader classes. Personal efforts made them local elites. They actively adopted modern education, and tried to grow into local elites through positions like myeon clerks and chiefs. After the liberation, they were on the rightists’ side actively participating in right-wing youth associations and parties in the middle of left/right confrontation and became local elites.