이 논문에서는 『독립신문』의 논설을 분석함으로써 당시 개화 지식인들이 어떤 인식틀을 가지고 `일찍 혼인하는 풍속`에 대한 논의를 전개했는지를 검토하였다. 조혼 논의의 역사적 전개 과정에서 『독립신문』의 논설은 문명화되지 못한 후진사회의 풍속으로서의 조혼의 이미지가 처음으로 구축되는 지점이었다. 『독립신문』의 1886년 논설에서는 서구의 혼인 풍속을 합리적인 풍속으로 보고, 조선의 풍속을 이러한 서구의 기준에 맞추어 개량해야 한다는 인식하에 조선의 `일찍 혼인하는 풍속`의 폐단을 지적하였다. 이 논의에서는 조선의 현실에 대한 진단 없이 조선의 습속을 서구와 같은 형태로 바꾸어나가고자 하는데 초점이 맞추어져 있었다. 이후 1888년, 1889년의 논설에서는 이러한 1886년 논설의 논리체계를 견지한 상태에서 `일찍 혼인하는 풍속`이 혼인 당사자들에게 해가 되는 습속이라는 논리가 강화되었다. 이는 문명화의 지향이라는 부분보다 조혼의 폐해가 강조되어갔던 1905년 이후의 조혼 논의로 이어졌다. 문명화를 통한 부국강병의 추구라는 목표 달성에 집중하여 조선의 현실에 대한 면밀한 검토 없이 `일찍 혼인하는 풍속`의 폐해를 부각시켜 대중을 계몽하려 했던 결과 조혼은 후진적인 조선 사회의 표상으로 각인되어 갔다.

Examined in this article are the editorials of Dokrib Shinmun, known as the Independence Newspaper, in order to determine what kind of parameters the `enlightened` intellectuals had in their perception of `the custom of getting married at youth,` and how they discussed the matter. In the history of all the discussions that happened concerning this matter, the editorials of Dokrib Shinmun were where the image of “Early Marriages,” as a custom of an underdeveloped and uncivilized society, was established for the first time, and stuck for quite a while. In the 1886 editorial of Dokrib Shinmun, the marriage customs of the Western world were considered as rational ones, while the problems of the customary practices of Joseon were listed in a negative manner. It was also argued that the problems caused by `the custom of getting married at youth` should be corrected, based upon Western standards. In the discussion of this editorial, the reality of the Joseon society and the reasons behind such practice was never diagnosed, and it was only suggested that the customs of Joseon should be changed to become more like those of the Western world. In the following editorials of 1888 and 1889, the tone of the 1886 editorial remained, while it was also newly emphasized that `the custom of getting married at youth` would be harmful to the people involved, the `newlyweds.` The angle of `aspiring for a civilized state` was a little bit toned down, and the post-1905 discussion evolved into a new direction, which emphasized the “Problems of Early Marriages.” Concentrating upon the objective of achieving a wealthy country and a powerful military, by reaching the state of a civilized society, the intellectuals only emphasized the negative aspects of `getting married at youth` and educated it to the public while never meticulously examining the reality of Joseon. As a result, “Early Marriages” became the symbol of the underdeveloped Joseon society.