8-1-2. ‘국대안’에 대한 찬반 대립 [명순구, "자유·정의·진리의 여정"/고려대학교와 민주화운동: 반독재운동의 선봉/I. 해방공간 학생운동의 좌우 대립]

Summary

Background

After Korea’s liberation, the earlier left–right student conflict over the trusteeship plan had eased. The U.S. military government’s announcement of the National University Plan on July 13, 1946, reignited tensions among students. In August, Bosung College became a comprehensive university and was renamed Korea University.

The National University Plan

The U.S. military government proposed combining Gyeongseong University with public vocational schools in the metropolitan area and reorganizing them as a national university. It presented the plan as a way to remove remnants of the colonial era, consolidate scattered educational institutions, reduce duplication, and improve efficiency.

Captain Harry Anstead was appointed chief of staff. The narration also associates him with Seoul National University’s motto, “Truth is my light.”

Opposition to the Plan

Critics feared that the schools would become subordinate to the U.S. military government, undermining their autonomy and independence. They also objected to the continued employment of staff from administrative schools established during Japanese rule. Opposition spread beyond the institutions directly affected, drawing support from students at other universities and from middle and high schools.

Student Groups and Their Positions

• The left-wing Student Action Unification Promotion Association (Haktong) called for democratization and student independence. On August 7, 1946, it organized a national federation based on autonomous student councils. On August 27, it formed a university-student joint struggle committee to oppose the plan.
• At Korea University, left-wing students organized a struggle committee and attempted to launch an uprising against the plan during end-of-term exams in February 1947. The effort failed after right-wing students obstructed it, and seven students were disciplined.
• The right-wing National Student League, also referred to in the subtitles as the National Federation of Student Associations, advocated unity among anti-communist students and actively opposed the anti-plan movement. Its members alleged that the South Korean Workers’ Party had incited opposition to the plan; the subtitles present this as their claim, not as an established fact.
• The right-wing side also formed student organizations to promote national university construction. The subtitles name Korea University political science student Kim Dong-i as director of a propaganda bureau and Kim Ki-ho as vice-chairman.

Overall Impact

The National University Plan became more than a dispute about institutional reorganization. It intensified ideological conflict between left- and right-wing student groups and caused continuing turmoil at Korea University.

Speakers and Sources

• Unidentified narrator/presenter: Provides the historical account.
• No Eugene (노유진): Quoted in the narration through a recollection in Yanghogi, describing the fierce opposition to the plan and recurring unrest at Korea University.