The Performativity and Socio-Technical Network of the Division of the Korean Peninsula: A Performative Division Theory

이 글은 고정된 본질과 실재를 갖는(being) 분단이 아닌 행해지고(doing) 있는 분단으로서 ‘수행적 분단론(performative division)’을 새롭게 개진하는 데 목적이 있다. 수행적 분단론은 분단이 단순히 진행형이라는 것을 의미하는 것이 아니라 분단이 이질적인 사회-기술적 행위자들의 결합을 통해 끊임없이 행해지는 ‘다중적 실재들(multiple realities)’이란 것을 강조하는 개념이다. 이 논의를 위해, 우선 분단 인식의 프레임과 다이어그램을 살펴보았다. 이 글에서는 지금까지 분단에 대한 인식과 한반도의 문제화가 주로 ‘안보’라는 이름으로 행해지는 사회-기술적 과정의 산물임을 드러내고자 했다. 둘째, 북한의 핵무기를 북한의 비정상성으로 설명하고 소비하는 방식에서 탈피하여 한반도에서 핵무기가 분단을 어떻게 수행적으로 구성해 내는가를 살펴보았다. 이를 위해 핵무기의 ‘사회-기술적 장치’(socio-technical device)를 기술 시스템 접근과 행위자-네트워크 이론(ANT)을 통해 어떻게 설명할 수 있는지 고민해 보았다. 마지막으로, 이와 같은 분단의 사회-기술적 장치들이 다양한 인간-비인간 네트워킹과 우리의 실천을 통해 어떻게 수행되고 분단의 동학을 창출하고 있는가를 ‘수행적 분단’의 개념화를 통해 설명하고자 했다.

This thesis regards the partition of the Korean Peninsula not as having a fixed essence and a single reality but as in progress. And its purpose is to develop the performative division theory in that regard. The performative division theory is not just about explaining the division away simple as progressive. It is a theory that emphasizes that the division is composed of multiple realities endlessly performed through association of heterogeneous socio-technical actors. For this purpose, first, the study is going to examine the frame for the perception of the division and its political diagram. This is to make it clear that the erstwhile perception of the division and the problematization of the Korean Peninsula are products of a socio-technical process that is performed in the name of national security. Second, the study suggests a break from explaining and consuming the peninsular crisis and instability through the North Korean abnormalcy and treating it as the dynamics of the division. So, the study examines how the division is performatively composed through various socio-technical devices. Third, the study shows that the division is rather strengthened through the repetitive performance of the norm, “becoming one nation”. The division performs by forcing normative acceptance of the nation through the myth of one same nation and through the duplicity involved in instructing the perception of people of the nation as hostile Other. These are to be described as melancholiac national identity and becoming one nation as a performative identity. Finally, the study states that the division has multiple identities through the connection of a myriad of human-nonhuman actors and is performed through our practice.