뒤늦은 국가차원의 친일청산: 친일반민족행위진상규명위원회의 활동을 중심으로

The past history of Korea is various types of problems. They can be divided largely into past of the colonial rule by Japan has left and by the abuses of dictatorial government. Peculiarly, their relationship is in line with each other such as both sides of coin. During a chaotic period of Korea achieved independence, all the makings of vestiges of Japanese imperialism was regarded as necessary for setting up to Syngman Rhee government which was actively supported by them. Obviously, the pro-Japanese liquidation by Syngman Rhee’s regime was sloppy, even that it ran aground. After June Democracy Movement in 1987, it began to catch the people's eyes that the dictator regime was closely related to pro-Japanese. Sad to say, Korean society had failed to clear way Japanese colonialism by downfall of the Special Committee for Prosecution of Anti-National Offenders due to constant sabotage under Syngman Rhee government. A public pressure was gradually mounting for demand of pro-Japanese liquidation and it had to be done as a process of democracy. Consequentially, it took place sporadically the “history clean-up” or “set the history right” campaigns, which referred a second pro-Japanese liquidation movement, and formed a social consensus to uphold historical justice. Strong demand from the civil society expanded to the country in an instant by acting in accordance with public opinion. At last, the Special Act on the Inspection of Collaborations for Japanese Imperialism passed through the National Assembly on March 2004 and the Presidential Committee for the Inspection of Collaborations for Japanese Imperialism was started at 2005 by it. The committee was clarifying the truth for the pro-Japanese prudently. Despite the relentless disturbance of political and conservative journalism, the committee came up with noticeable fruition what that it made a determination of fingering 1,006 people as pro-Japanese collaborators. There was important meaning itself that national institution clearly did indentify pro-Japanese issues that belonged to taboo areas in Korea. Also, In regard to past history liquidation after the past more than 60 years, Pro-Japanese liquidation would be an unprecedented. Even legal procedure as a core of settlement was not possible because it was delayed over sixty years after liberation, it made them take historical responsibility for their activities and was important to put that on record in Korea history. If there were desired, the activities of the committee was limited because it was installed by Special Act, which was based on political compromise in national assembly, and operated it as other past affairs. To crown it all, the special act itself placed first in excessively narrow hold a range of Truth. There was no room for flexible judgment of the survey and the range has been sequestered a considerable degree from the beginning. No one can deny that Pro-Japanese settlement of the national level was inspired from an earnest desire of civil society. Nevertheless, to finish the uncompleted pro-Japanese liquidation will belong to civil society again. The committee decision was not only enough but also it is not all for the pro-Japanese liquidation. However, it should be evaluated as a touchstone because it is not finished and must do it more than the committee by the civil society and the groves of academe. In conclusion, investigating the truth of the past history including Japan colonial era, it is ongoing history writing and also can be a first chapter of our modern history since democratization movements. The truth commission activity for Pro-Japanese is the product of the democracy movement. In other word, it was also in another of the beginning of the democratic movement.