2·28 민주운동은 1960년 2월 28일 이승만 자유당 정권의 독재와 불의에 항거해 대구지역 고등학생들이 주도해 일어난 대한민국 최초의 민주화 운동이다. 2·28이후 지난 60년간 우리나라의 민주주의는 끈질긴 투쟁, 숭고한 희생 그리고 시민참여의 힘으로 세계가 부러워하는 큰 발전을 이룩하였다.

이 책은 1960년 2월 28일 일어난 민주운동의 역사적 사실과 의미를 영문으로 번역한 것이다. 2.28 민주운동에 대한 역사적 사실들과 기록 사진을 씨줄과 날줄로 엮음으로써 더욱 현장감이 살아날 수 있게 하였다. 2.28 민주운동이 한국의 민주주의 발전에 한 획을 그은 사건임을 세계인들에게 널리 인식시킴은 물론 역사적 의미를 재조명하는 계기가 될 것이다.

Preface

System of Romanization

An Outline of the February 28th Democracy Movement

Chapter 1. The Backgrounds of the February 28th Democracy Movement

1. Political Background

1.1. Establishment of the Rhee Syng-Man Government and its Dictatorship

1.2. The Presidential and Vice Presidential Election of 1960

2. Economic Background

2.1. Failure to Establish a National Economy

2.2. Economic Recession

3. Regional Background

3.1. Student Independence Movement in Daegu during Japanese Colonial Rule
3.2. Political Leanings of Daegu Citizens
3.2.1. Daegu Citizens’ Consciousness Structure
3.2.2. Political Trends and Daegu as the Opposition City
Preface

System of Romanization

An Outline of the February 28th Democracy Movement

Chapter 1. The Backgrounds of the February 28th Democracy Movement

1. Political Background

1.1. Establishment of the Rhee Syng-Man Government and its Dictatorship

1.2. The Presidential and Vice Presidential Election of 1960

2. Economic Background

2.1. Failure to Establish a National Economy

2.2. Economic Recession

3. Regional Background

3.1. Student Independence Movement in Daegu during Japanese Colonial Rule

3.2. Political Leanings of Daegu Citizens

3.2.1. Daegu Citizens’ Consciousness Structure

3.2.2. Political Trends and Daegu as the Opposition City

4.3. Student Demonstrations in Busan 

4.4. March 15th Masan Demonstrations

4.5. The April 19th Revolution

Chapter 3. Succession to the April 19th Revolution

1. The Unfolding of the April 19th Revolution

2. Immediate Consequences and Effects of the April 19th Revolution

2.1. Unfolding of Democratization Movement in Educational Institutions

2.1.1. Movement for Self-governing Student Associations

2.1.2. The Expulsion of the Government-controlled Teachers and a Clean-up

Movement for Corrupted Foundations

2.1.3. Sympathy and Support from Teachers’ Unions

2.2. The Unfolding of the Social and Political Reform Movements

2.2.1. The Unfolding of the New Life Movement

2.2.2. Demand for Dissolution of the Fourth National Assembly

2.2.3. Movement for the Elimination of Anti- Democratic and Corrupted Forces

2.3. The Unfolding of the Self-reliance, Democracy, and Unification Movements

2.3.1. The Movement for the Restoration of School Property and the Opposition to

Economic Cooperation between Korea and the United States

2.3.2. A Movement against the Two Unjust Laws

2.3.3. Unification Movement

Chapter 4. The Historical Significance of the February 28th Democracy Movement

1. Students’ Understanding of the Motives for the Movement

2. Organization of Leadership

2.1. The Formation of New Modern Societal Authorities

2.2. The Loose Solidarity of Students, Citizens, and the Press

3. Continuation of Struggles

3.1. The February 28th Democracy Movement’s Influence on People, to Have Courage

and Confidence to Fight against the Rhee Syng-Man Dictatorship

3.1.1. Overcoming Political Nihilism

3.1.2. The Meaning of ‘a Sleepless Night’: Sacrificial Spirit and Courage

3.2. The February 28th Democracy Movement Being not Improvised, but Conducted

with a Careful and Courageous Plan Based on the Extensive Consensus among

Students

3.3. The February 28th Democracy Movement being the Beginning of the Journey that was inherited by the April 19th Revolution

Appendices: Photo Illustrations

Appendix 1: Photos from the Day of the Movement

Appendix 2: Photos of the Memorials in Honor of the Movement

Appendix 3: Photos from the Eight Participating Schools

 The February 28th Democracy Movement was a spontaneous stand against the dictatorial government regime and was started by students from eight public high schools in Daegu on February 28th, 1960. The Society for the 2·28 Movement for Democracy was established in February of 1990 to commemorate this movement. In order to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the movement, and put this movement into global context, the Society is publishing the English version of The February 28th Democracy Movement: Korea’s First Democratic Movement.

번역자│

No-Ju Kim is a professor in the Department of English Language and Literature at Kyungpook Nat’l University (KNU). He completed his Ph.D. at Ohio State Univ. after his 1st M.A. at Seoul Nat’l Univ. and 2nd M.A. at Brown Univ.

Robert William Jones Jr. is a Ph.D. candidate in the same department at KNU who finished his M.A. at KNU and B.A. at Georgia Southern Univ.