본 논문의 목적은 개화기 서울에서 이루어진 사회복지 활동 중, 그동안 조망되지 못하였던 한국인 독지가의 사회복지활동을 살펴보는데 있다. 결론적으로 개화기 한국인 독지가들은 기존의 나눔 정신에 기반하여 전통적인 구휼대상이었던 환과고독과 재해민들을 지속적으로 구제하였고, 서구의 사회복지 사상과 그 방법의 도입으로 혜중국, 진민소, 경성고아원과 기아수용소, 자선부인회와 자혜부인회 등의 기관과 단체를 설립하여 조직적으로 사회복지서비스를 제공하였음을 살펴보았다.
1890년대 후반 한국인 독지가들이 구료와 빈민구제를 목적으로 혜중국과 진민소를 설립하였다. 당시 정부의 대민의료기관인 제중원이 선교단체로 이관되고, 빈민구제기관인 진휼청이 폐지된 상황에서 한국인 독지가들이 그 필요성을 절감하고 스스로 경비를 마련하여 실시하였다는 것은 크게 평가되어야 할 것이다. 물론 혜중국은 정부의 대민의료기관인 내부병원이 설립되면서, 진민소는 경비마련의 폐단이 논의되면서 폐지되었지만 당시 뜻있는 사람들이 사회복지기관을 설립하고, 사회복지서비스를 담당하였다는 것은 한국사회복지역사에 중요한 사건이라고 할 수 있다.
1905년 경 설립된 경성고아원와 기아수양소는 한국 역사 상 한국인이 고아들을 항시적으로 수용하고 그들에게 의식주 외에 교육과 기술을 가르치고 미래 사회구성원으로 교육시킨 초유의 기관이다. 이는 고아에 대한 인식의 변화와 함께 고아구제의 방법에 있어서도 일대 획을 긋는 사건이라고 할 수 있다. 또한 자선부인회와 자혜부인회는 당시 여자교육 활성화에 뜻을 모으고 활동하였던 여성들과 명망가의 부인들에 의해서 각각 1907년과 1908년에 조직되었다. 이 두 단체는 경성고아원의 유지를 보조하고, 각각 잡지와 신문을 간행하여 여성의 의식을 계몽시키기 위해 노력하였으며, 한국 사회에 필요한 자선활동에 적극적으로 참여하는 모습을 보였다.
This study aims to examine the social welfare activity of people of seoul in the time of enlightenment, especially the private welfare activity of Korean which is not received attention until now. In its final analysis, civilian Korean persons continually relieved Hwangwagodok(the widower, the widow, the orphan, and the old) and the suffering people by disaster who were traditional target of relief based on the existing consciousness of sharing. Also, they were influenced from the western idea of social welfare and introduced the methods of it. They established institutions and organizations as Hyechoongguk(Hospital for Saving People), Jinminso(Organization to Relief People), GyeongseongGoawon(Gyeongseong Orphanage), Giasooyongso(the Camp for Abandoned Children), JaseonBooinhoe (the Women's Charitable Association) and JahyeBooinhoe(the Women's Benevolent Association). They offered systemic service of social welfare through them. In the late 1890s, private Koreans established Hyechoongguk and Jinminso with the purpose of remedy and relief for the poor. At that time, Jejungwon(House of Universal Helpfulness) which was the official medical institution for people of Korean Government was transferred into the control of foreign mission group and Jinhyulcheong (Relief Agency for the Poor) was abolished. It is significant that private Koreans became aware of this situation, raised money and established necessary institutions. Although Hyechoongguk was abolished when NaebuByongwon which was the new official medical institution for people was established and Jinminso was abolished when the negative effect of raising fund was discussed, it is very important event in the history of Korean social welfare that some private Korean established institutions for social welfare and offered social welfare service through them. GyeongseongGoawon and Giasooyongso, established in about 1905 were the first institutions in which Koreans accommodate sustainedly, fed, lodged, clothed, taught and trained orphans for raising them as the future members of society in the history of Korea. It is very important moment that the consciousness of orphans and the method of relieving orphans were significantly changed. The JaseonBooinhoe and the JahyeBooinhoe was organized in 1907 and 1908 respectively. These two associations supported GyeongseongGoawon together, published magazine and newspaper for the enlightenment of women respectively, and were very active in social welfare which was necessary for Korean society.
This study aims to examine the social welfare activity of people of seoul in the time of enlightenment, especially the private welfare activity of Korean which is not received attention until now. In its final analysis, civilian Korean persons continually relieved Hwangwagodok(the widower, the widow, the orphan, and the old) and the suffering people by disaster who were traditional target of relief based on the existing consciousness of sharing. Also, they were influenced from the western idea of social welfare and introduced the methods of it. They established institutions and organizations as Hyechoongguk(Hospital for Saving People), Jinminso(Organization to Relief People), GyeongseongGoawon(Gyeongseong Orphanage), Giasooyongso(the Camp for Abandoned Children), JaseonBooinhoe (the Women's Charitable Association) and JahyeBooinhoe(the Women's Benevolent Association). They offered systemic service of social welfare through them. In the late 1890s, private Koreans established Hyechoongguk and Jinminso with the purpose of remedy and relief for the poor. At that time, Jejungwon(House of Universal Helpfulness) which was the official medical institution for people of Korean Government was transferred into the control of foreign mission group and Jinhyulcheong (Relief Agency for the Poor) was abolished. It is significant that private Koreans became aware of this situation, raised money and established necessary institutions. Although Hyechoongguk was abolished when NaebuByongwon which was the new official medical institution for people was established and Jinminso was abolished when the negative effect of raising fund was discussed, it is very important event in the history of Korean social welfare that some private Korean established institutions for social welfare and offered social welfare service through them. GyeongseongGoawon and Giasooyongso, established in about 1905 were the first institutions in which Koreans accommodate sustainedly, fed, lodged, clothed, taught and trained orphans for raising them as the future members of society in the history of Korea. It is very important moment that the consciousness of orphans and the method of relieving orphans were significantly changed. The JaseonBooinhoe and the JahyeBooinhoe was organized in 1907 and 1908 respectively. These two associations supported GyeongseongGoawon together, published magazine and newspaper for the enlightenment of women respectively, and were very active in social welfare which was necessary for Korean society.
