한국문제에 대한 정의와 질서의 긴장을 통한 재구성: 질서 중심적 국제관계로부터의 탈피를 위하여

The article attempts to critically examine the possibility of breaking away from the hegemonic order-based understanding of the Korean Question. Taking an alternative approach, it explores the "English School" of international relations theory, delving in particular into the significance of re-understanding Korean issues through the tension between order and justice. Given that the Korean peninsula issues have historically been structured around the competition for dominance among major powers, theories that pursue the stability of hegemonic order such as neorealism have become the mainstream perspective. However, the problem with this order-based approach is that in its pursuit of balance of power, it is left with no choice but to represent dominant countries' viewpoints. At the same time, the truly relevant parties to Korean issues are objectified and excluded. It creates an imbalance and inequality between the relevant parties and the hegemonic powers with regard to Korean affairs, thereby strengthening the process of integration and subordination into the dominant order, rather than progressing toward regional peace. Therefore, the research attempts to reconstruct Korean issues through the notion of the order-justice tension in the English School of international relations in what is an existential transformation that seeks to overcome the limitations of the current order-centric paradigm. The current hegemonic order-centric understanding of Korean issues focuses on managing Korean issues to stabilize the international order. It inevitably rules out Korea’s self-determination to resolve its problems. In contrast, the research’s attempt at understanding the tension between order and justice offers the possibility of Korean restructuring issues through the inter-subjectivity between Korea and the hegemonic powers by reconstructing the issues into the relationship between the hegemonic order and the justice to legitimate the hegemonic. It will be a meaningful discussion as it is indicative of the potential for self-initiated resolution by the rightful stakeholders in the Korean issues.