이 논문의 목적은 다층적인 삶을 살았던 현덕신의 삶을 실증적인 사료를 중심으로 추적하고 정리함으로써 독립운동가이자 여성운동가로서의 지위를 확인하고자 하였다. 연구의 대상은 일제강점기 척박했던 시대 안에서 여성의 삶을 개척한 여성운동가였던 여의사 현덕신이다. 그동안 현덕신에 대한 연구는 없었고 역사적으로 조명되지도 않았기 때문에 그의 활동을 실증적인 방법으로 확인한 바 연구의 결과는 다음과 같다. 첫째, 현덕신은 동경여자의학전문학교 학생으로 ‘2·8독립선언’의 준비자금을 지원하였고, 2·8독립선언에 참여하였으며, 황신덕 등과 함께 검속되었다. 이후에도 일본에서 독립운동혐의로 여러 차례 검속되었다. 일본경시청의 ‘1급 감시대상자’가 되었지만 굴하지 않고 유영준과 함께 일본여자유학생들의 조직인 ‘조선여자유학생흥학회’를 조직하여 『여자계』를 발간하였다. 일본에서 독립운동과 여성운동을 전개한 뒤 귀국해서도 동대문병원의 의사로 ‘근우회’창립회원이자 발기인으로 중앙집행위원으로 조선 여성의 지위 향상을 위하여 투신하였다. 둘째, 현덕신은 시간을 아끼기 위하여 단발하였고 ‘조선여자의학교’를 설립하기 위하여 애를 썼으며, 경성기독청년회와 조선기독교청년회를 비롯한 여러 단체에서 활동하였다. 광주로 내려와 병원을 열고 광주YWCA회장을 역임하는 등 지역사회에도 여성들의 삶을 위해 헌신하였다. 신생유치원과 신생보육학교를 설립하여 어린이와 여성 인권운동에도 앞장섰다. 그는 ‘조선여성’을 ‘조선사회’를 위한 삶을 살아낸 여의사이자 독립운동가이자 여성운동가였다. 현덕신에 대한 총론으로 일정한 한계가 있지만 한국독립운동사와 한국여성운동사에 현덕신의 자리가 마련되는 단초가 될 수 있기를 기대한다.In the Japanese colonial era, there were several women who pioneered the barren lives of Chosun women, but Hyun Duk-shin, a female doctor, was not investigated historically. This thesis intended to examine the life of Hyun Duk-shin, who played multiple roles, and review the position of female activists. Hyun Duk-shin supported the reserve fund of the “2.8 Declaration of Independence,” participated in it, and was taken into custody with Hwang, Shin-duk, as a student of the Tokyo Women s Medical College. Then, she was arrested several times on the suspicion of participation in the independence movement in Japan. She became the object of “the 1st watch” of Japanese police. Nevertheless, she established the “Chosun Women’s Free Student Association” that was an organization of the Japanese women’s free students, including Yu, Young-jun, and published 『Yeojagye』 without submission. After returning to her hometown, she became a doctor in the Dongdaemun hospital and sacrificed her life for the improvement of the Chosun women’s position, as a member and initiator of the ”Geunwuhoe,” a left-right joint organization of female activists, and a member of the central executive committee. Hyun, Duk-shin set an example in the Chosun society, who was a dynamic woman, a doctor in the Dongdaemun hospital, and a teacher of biology in the Jeongshin Girls’ School. She cut her hair to save time, strived for the establishment of the “Chosun female medical school,” played important roles in several groups, including the Gyeongseong Christian Youth League and the Chosun Christian Youth League, and led the establishment of the Chosun women’s barren lives. She came to Gwangju, opened the hospital, and endeavored to solve difficult problems in the regional society, thereby dedicating her life for the regional society’s upliftment by becoming the president of Gwangju YWCA. She opened a new kindergarten, supervised the education of children, established a new child care school, and cultivated child care teachers, thereby leading the movement of human rights improvement of women and children. She was a doctor, and a female activist, and an independence fighter, who dedicated her life to the “Chosun society.” Therefore, this thesis should act as an introduction about the historical position of Hyun, Duk-shin, whose name failed to appear in the records of several significant movements.
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Oct 1, 2020
Jordan Morehouse 
Open Access
