본 연구는 『버치문서』를 분석해 국민국가 성립 시기 레너드 버치(Leonard M. Bertsch)의 역할을 재조명한다. 『버치문서』는 하버드대학교 옌칭도서관에 소장된, 미군정 사령관 존 하지의 정치고문이었던 레너드 버치가 작성한 공적인 문서와 사적인 편지, 메모 등을 말하는 것이다. 레너드 버치는 미군정 정치고문으로 활동하며, 삼권의 분립 등을 근간으로 한 중간파 중심의 공화체제를 수립하려고 했다. 본 논문은 버치와 중간파 정치인･문화예술인(예를 들어, 강용흘)이나 문화예술단체(예를 들어, 조선문화단체총연맹)와의 관계에 초점을 맞춰, 그가 어떻게 경찰 폭력을 비판했으며 한국인들의 표현의 자유를 확보해주기 위해 노력했는가를 예증한다. 특히 본 연구는 민주주의 사역이라는 개념으로 버치의 활동을 평가한다. 버치를 민주주의의 선교사라고 규정하는 것이다.
버치는 미국의 윌슨주의 전통으로 이해할 수 있는 인물이다. 윌슨주의란 미국식 민주주의를 해외에 전파･이식하려는 미국의 외교･안보 사상을 지칭하는 말이다. 본 연구는 『버치문서』의 분석을 통해, 미국의 윌슨주의적 전통이 어떻게 한국의 정치체제와 문화에 영향을 끼치게 되었는가를 논한다.
This study examines how Leonard M. Bertsch (1910~1976) contributed to the founding of South Korea by analyzing The Bertsch Papers. The Bertsch Papers is a collection of memorandums, letters, and personal notes written by or received by US Army Lieutenant Bertsch. As the political adviser to John Hodge, the Military Governor of the United States Army Military Government in Korea (USAMGIK), Leonard M. Bertsch attempted to establish a republic based on the separation of powers and led by Korean centrists. Furthermore, this paper illustrates how Bertsch attempted to eradicate police brutality in South Korea and secure freedom of speech for Korean artists by focusing on his friendship with artists and writers—such as Young Hill Kang (Kang Yonghŭl)—and his support of arts organizations—for example, Korean Federation of Cultural Unions. Thus, this study demonstrates that Bertsch is a democratic missionary, by developing a general conceptualization of ministry. In other words, Bertsch was influenced by the Wilsonian tradition, which emphasized the aggressive propagation of American democracy. Hence, this paper addresses what role Wilsonianism played in building South Korea’s political system and its culture.
This study examines how Leonard M. Bertsch (1910~1976) contributed to the founding of South Korea by analyzing The Bertsch Papers. The Bertsch Papers is a collection of memorandums, letters, and personal notes written by or received by US Army Lieutenant Bertsch. As the political adviser to John Hodge, the Military Governor of the United States Army Military Government in Korea (USAMGIK), Leonard M. Bertsch attempted to establish a republic based on the separation of powers and led by Korean centrists. Furthermore, this paper illustrates how Bertsch attempted to eradicate police brutality in South Korea and secure freedom of speech for Korean artists by focusing on his friendship with artists and writers—such as Young Hill Kang (Kang Yonghŭl)—and his support of arts organizations—for example, Korean Federation of Cultural Unions. Thus, this study demonstrates that Bertsch is a democratic missionary, by developing a general conceptualization of ministry. In other words, Bertsch was influenced by the Wilsonian tradition, which emphasized the aggressive propagation of American democracy. Hence, this paper addresses what role Wilsonianism played in building South Korea’s political system and its culture.
