미군정 여론조사로 본 한국의 정치,사회동향(1945~1947) = A View of South Korea`s Political and Social Trends Through USAMGIK`s Opinion Surveys(1945~1947)

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

This thesis examines South Korea`s political and social trends through analyzing of US army govemment`s opinion surveys during 1945-1947. After occupation of South Korea, USAMGIK (US army military govemment in Korea) had to face political, economic, social problem of south Korea Economic difficulties were rising due to cutting of trade with manchuria, North Korea and Japan, and feudalistic tenant system was still prevailing. South Korean wanted their nation`s unconditional independence, and was seeking reforms such as land reform. At the same time, USAMGIK had to carry out mission of accomplishing US`s interest in Korea peninsula. USAMGIK influenced South Korea`s political realignment, and pushed forward concept of Korean interim government to promote core political group of future Korean government. Because election was important medium in USAMGIK`s concept of Korean interim government, it was important to secure suport of South Korean. USAMGIK`s opinion survey was to find solution for both matters. USAMGIK inspected any social problems which might threaten the stability of occupation and checked Korean`s reaction to its political program through opinion survey. Consequently, USAMGIK`s opinion surveys contained social trends and polical trends of South Korea during occupation. Also, USAMGIK had to mind so called Democratic Reform which took place in north of 38 degree latitude. Under Soviet Union`s regime, North Korean established North Korean Interim People`s Committee, and executed reforms such as land reform, nationalization of industry, female equality, and improvement of labor environment. USAMGIK`s opinion survey was conducted by sub-section of public information organization. While changing its name from Office of Public Opinion to Public Opinion Bureau, this section carried out opinion polls by means of Opinion Sampling Trip and On the Street Survey. Opinion Sampling Trip was method of conduction interviews with several local residents by army officers, and it was a preliminary study before beginning opinion surveys. After employment of polltaker through out cities and towns of each provinces, opinion survey activity could be conducted by means of on the Street Survey. From that time, prepared questionnaire was used in surveying activity. It was possible to do quantitative surveys, and track down the trends of public opinion. But On the Street Survey had limits because it was not a scientific sampling of public opinion. In fact, in Seoul area, right wings` opinion could be exaggerated in survey results, due to left wings` refusal to respond USAMGIK`s opinion polls. This is one of the rfactor that should be considered when analyzing USAMGIK`s poll results. USAMGIK conducted regular opinion polls and occasional polls. Regular opinion polls was done regularly to check variation of certain opinion trends. Problems concerning livelihood of people, satisfaction of USAMGIK and USAMGIK`s policy, preference of economic system were main subject of regular opinion poll. Occasional opinion polls mostly included USAMGIK`s political plans. USAMGIK conduct both regular polls and occasional polls in Seoul, but only regular polls in provinces. To USAMGIK, Seoul was an important political center. On the other hand, USAMGIK conducted only regular polls in provinces, which is concerned with stability of occupation only. In USAMGIK`s polls, two social trends can be analyzed. First thing is food crisis and prevailing dissatisfaction of city dwellers. Soaring upward trend of rice price had bad influence on ``satisfaction of USAMGIK``, and was a cause of Korean`s distrust on USAMGIK`s administrative ability. For USAMGIK regarded Seoul as a important political center, this food crisis was a great threat to USAMGIK`s occupation. Secondary social trends were South Korean (city dwellers, especially Seoul)`s support of Government controlled economy, land reform and a better labor conditions. Korean favored nationalization of main industries or all industries, and supported govemmental control of economy by various means. Also Koreans demanded land reform by future Korean government, but they did not favored USAMGIK`s intervention. Most of Korean idd not supported labor union`s political activities, but they still wanted improvement of labor conditions. Even right wings supported these reforms, which is similar to those conducted under North Korean Interim People`s Committee. USAMGIK`s surveys also shows political trends of 1946. USAMGIK was interested in pushing interim government plan instead of trusteeship by Joint Soviet-American commission. And they constantly surveyed South Korean`s reaction to their plans. Though it`s only limited to Seoul area, Korean`s opinion trends slowly moved toward the direction of the USAMGIK`s desire. In 1946 march`s opinion poll, Koreans were against USAMGIK`s Representative Democratic Council of South Korean. Instead, they insisted US and Soviet army`s withdrawal. But after failure of 1st Joint Soviet-American commission, Korean opinion supported USAMGIK`s South Kore an Interim Legislative Assembly (SKILA). Also Korean blamed Soviet for the recession of Joint Soviet- American commission. Korean were agreeing to USAMGIK`s plan of SKILA, but not the way USAMGIK establishes SKILA. Koreans demanded popular suffrage for the SKILA election in opinion polls, but USAMGIK limited suffrage in order that right wing wins the election. USAMGIK also connived police and Korean government employee`s intervention of election. In Seoul, Koreans supported invalidation of election and reelection of representatives of their area.