Abstract
This paper serves to analyze discourses on remarriage of the widows at the beginning of the modernization era or during the enlightenment period of Korea (1860-1910). The discourses of newspapers and Shinsoseol which are the text of this study have been analyzed with the qualitative research technique. The major conclusions that are derived from the study are as follows: First, intellectuals during the enlightenment period claimed the unfairness of the prohibition from remarriage of the widows with especially focusing on financial difficulty and life-long loneliness of the young widows. Second, permission of remarriage of the widows was explained not with the point of vies of individual life of widow, but with the point of vies of strengthening the international competitiveness. Third, the discourse claimed that the widow should hold the power of decision of remarriage. Forth, the discourse emphasized the etiquette of the wedding ceremony in remarriage of widows. Fifth, the point that the faithfulness was not easy for a usual widow to obey made the faithfulness noble ethical principle of Korea society.