�Korea's legacy from the Japanese colonial occupation of 1910-1945.
By Greg McCulley
Drafted 14 November 1997
����������� History is replete with groups of people who have had a distaste for one another.� One such example is the relationship that existed (and perhaps still does) between the people of Japan and Korea.� In 1910, the Japanese empire moved into, and not for the first time,� the Korean peninsula.�� She did so with nearly no protest from Western powers.� Japan stayed in Korea for 35 years, until her defeat at the close of World War II in 1945.� The effects of Japan's occupation were and are far reaching, and we will examine some of the ways this changed the path that the Koreas were to take in the 20th century.
����������� Being closest to Japan geographically, Korea was the first to be annexed when Japan made her move to expand her holdings in Asia.�� This is not the only reason Japan moved into Korea;� in the treaty that ended the Russo-Japanese War in 1950, Russia acknowledged Japan's interests in Korea.� This paved the way for Japan to become a larger world power (Reischauer, 130).� In taking Korea, Japan was able to take over the railway improvements already started by the Russians, and soon after embarked on a policy of developing of Korea's infrastructure.� Further railway projects, schools and factories were built to improve Korea's ability to serve Japan as a colony of an emerging power.� Japan took control of Korean business, and many Korean lands were sold to settlers from Japan.� This was not done in a benign fashion, however.� It was a harsh occupation.� Koreans were made to suffer repressive masters in the Japanese with a restrictive and often cruel police force.� It is important to note that prior to Japan's arrival in Korea, there existed a Chinese-styled, centralized form of government that had been in place for a thousand years.� The arrival of Japan triggered rage in the hearts of Koreans, for they were a proud people who resented the occupation and the Japanese themselves.� This is the first legacy of the occupation:� a Korean distaste for the Japanese.
����������� Beyond the emotional ramifications of the occupation,� there was the effect of being absorbed into the Japanese empire.� This was the goal of the Japanese:� to digest the Korean assets to fuel continued expansion.� Korea was to become a rice granary for Japan. This and other crops from Korea were harvested to be sold in Japan.� As with industrial development, agricultural development was to further the aims of the occupiers. However, this lack of economic freedom for Korea was not the end of Japanese exploitation.� The Japanese language was taught in Korean schools.� The occupying government made little or no attempt to preserve the indigenous culture. In fact, the actual policy of Japan was to install Japanese as the official language and de-emphasize the Korean language.� After 1938, it was increasingly required for use in official matters.� All these oppressive elements resulted in an elevated degree of solidarity of purpose among Koreans:� expel the invaders.�
����������� From the beginning of the occupation, Japan faced sporadic resistance from the Koreans, and whenever the opportunity arose to put down erupting nationalism, Japan took advantage of it.�� Official Japanese records indicate that there were nearly 3000 encounters between Japanese troops and Korean insurgents, but these engagements soon dwindled in frequency and force (Britannica, 458c) .� Many individuals were imprisoned or killed and� many more� Koreans fled the country.�� Korea had little choice but to hold out for a Japanese defeat, and this came with the end of World War II.� The Cairo Declaration, which was issued formally by the US, Great Britain, and China, promised Korean independence "in due course".� This was issued in December of 1943, and in 1945 the Soviet Union entered the Korean peninsula from the north and US forces from the south.� As the victorious Allies accepted the surrender of the defeated Japanese, Korea was divided into two regions.� The Soviets occupied the northern region and the US entered the southern area.� The peninsula was divided at the 38th parallel, and perhaps here lies one of the most significant results of the Japanese occupation:� the creation of "the Koreas".
����������� The Korean People's Republic was announced on 6 September 1945.� The Soviets endorsed a Communist-styled government that was opposed to US military involvement in the South.� US forces initially claimed to be neutral, and that they happened to be the only nation in the south that was available to set up a provisional government.�� Whatever the case, Korea was divided.� What was once a homogenous and proud nation was now two countries.� This remains the case to this day. �
����������� Following the chain of events that led to the division of the Korean peninsula, it seems logical to assume it all started with Japan defeating Russia and gaining the authority to operate in Korea.� Thereafter, Japan suppressed the culture, institutionalized Japanese language, and exploited industry and agriculture.� This set the stage for the dialectic of ideals that helped make Korea what she is today, and triggered events that resulted in a severed nation.� This is the legacy of the Korean colonial period of 1910-1945.