Chapter 23 Modernizing Korea and Colonial Rule (1896-1945)
Chapter 23 Modernizing Korea and Colonial Rule (1896-1945) Attempts at Reform (1896-1910) -
Competition between Japan and Russia gave Koreans the opportunity to promote reforms, nationalism, and modern modes of social interaction
Russia’s Interests -
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Russia and Japan signed two agreements that granted Russia equal rights with Japan to station legation guards and grant loans to the Korean government They almost divided Korea into two spheres of influence Korean also signed a secret agreement in which Russia promised to protect King Kojong and provide military and financial aid, since he escaped from Japanese control King Kojong began to lease rights to exploitation of natural resources After he returned to his palace in 1879, he changed the title of kingdom to “The Great Empire of Korea” and adopted the title of emperor to put himself on par with Chinese, Russian, and Japanese rulers
Nationalist Movements -
First national movements: as Korean struggled to find a national identity fir for the modern age The new Independence Club demanded the dismissal of corrupt officials and strove to educate people on the need to modernize the country Although the club was banned after 2 years, in inspired elite women to debate sexual equality and education for women in the context of Korean nationalism Weaned from their addiction to Chinese culture, scholars studied Korean language, history and literature A new Korea founded on principles of social equality, equality of men and women, and replacement of superstition with rationality
The Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905) -
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Conflicts led Japan entered into an alliance with Great Britain Prevented Germany and France from supporting Russia in a repetition of the Triple Intervention of 1895 Opened war by Japan against Russia alone February 1904 Japan established a protectorate over Korea Ito’s vision was to maintain an “independent” Korean government that would willingly carry out institutional reforms under Japanese guidance he used Japanese police and regular army units to maintain order while Emperor Kojong was left on the throne Emperor Kojong secretly sent messages to head of European states for help in gaining independence, but Japan outmaneuvered it.
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Finally, Ito annexed Korean and assassinated by Korean patriot
Japanese Colonial Rule (1910-1945) -
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3 phases of Japan’s colonial rule 1. Japan created a police state Government-General (GG) of Chosen Eliminated all Korean political participation, restricted Korean business activity, and invested heavily in the promotion of rice cultivation for export to Japan March First Movement: 33 patriots signed a Declaration of Independence and marched peacefully to the Japanese authorities to petition for liberation forced Japan to change its policy 2. Shifted to “cultural government” policy Allowed a certain degree of freedom of speech and association and permitted the establishment of Korean businesses 3. Japan invested huge amounts of capital in heavy industry and infrastructure in Korean in support of Japan’s wars Severely repressed freedom Instituted military conscription, forced labor, and Korean assimilation to Japan Forced Koreans to use the Japanese language, worship the Japanese emperor in Shinto shrines, and adopt Japanese names in an effort to eradicate Korean identity It prevent the modern industrial development & abolishing inherited social status as a barrier to advancement, etc Developmentalism opened the eyes of some Koreans to economic development without liberal democracy
The Land Survey -
To create an efficient land tax for raising revenue, the colonial government adopted a land registration program in 1911 to record the owners of all land Designed to transfer land from Korean owners to Japanese by force or guile 1942, 1.5 million Koreans had settled in Manchuria where Japan provided shelter for anti-Japanese political movements as long as they retained passports issued by colonial authority and dint become naturalized Chinese citizens
The Growth of Korean Industry -
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In the 1920s, Korean businesses emerged despite limited capital resources The dominant industry in Korean hands other than cheap exiles was food process Most Korean metal factories were no more than blacksmiths’ shops While some argue that Japan took an economic interest in Korea to obtain raw materials and markets for its exports, Japan invested more than it ever received in profits because it put strategic political objects first By 1941, over 90% of the capital invested in Korean industry came from Japan
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Most weapons were manufactured in Japan, leaving the Korean machine industry repairs, vehicles, and shipbuilding Korean still continued to develop small-scale businesses, but they couldn’t have prospered or survived unless they cooperated with Japan Korea became industrialized, and proletariat expanded
Education and Modern Mass Culture -
GG allowed the publication of newspapers, magazines, and book in Korea, but it subjected all publications to the sharp eyes of Japanese censors Despite Japanese aims to assimilate Koreans to their culture, it established separate and better schools for Japanese students in Korea The coming modernity opened opportunities for women Urban women took the lead in promoting new standards of hygiene and sanitation in rural areas Established education centers
The Rise of Communism and Militant Nationalism -
Soviet union was the only country offering monetary and spiritual support to Koreans and other national liberation movements Although Korean communists opposed joining class enemies in united front, they capitulated Comintern 共產黨第三國際 pressure and joined the New Root Society in 1927
Manchuria -
The Government General of Korea encouraged Koreans to set up their own institutions to govern themselves in Manchuria These Korean military units joined the Soviet Red Army in battles against the Japanese army dispatched to Siberia in 1019 to attack the new Soviet regime Kim II Sung launched the most successful guerrilla raid against the Japanese in Korean peninsula on June 4, 1937 After Japan initiated war with China in 1937, it looked to Korea for support Ebducted or enticed thousands of Korean women with false promises of jobs and then forced them to become “comfort women” for Japanese troops in active theaters of operations
Competition between Japan and Russia gave Koreans the opportunity to promote reforms, nationalism, and modern modes of social interaction
Russia’s Interests -
-
Russia and Japan signed two agreements that granted Russia equal rights with Japan to station legation guards and grant loans to the Korean government They almost divided Korea into two spheres of influence Korean also signed a secret agreement in which Russia promised to protect King Kojong and provide military and financial aid, since he escaped from Japanese control King Kojong began to lease rights to exploitation of natural resources After he returned to his palace in 1879, he changed the title of kingdom to “The Great Empire of Korea” and adopted the title of emperor to put himself on par with Chinese, Russian, and Japanese rulers
Nationalist Movements -
First national movements: as Korean struggled to find a national identity fir for the modern age The new Independence Club demanded the dismissal of corrupt officials and strove to educate people on the need to modernize the country Although the club was banned after 2 years, in inspired elite women to debate sexual equality and education for women in the context of Korean nationalism Weaned from their addiction to Chinese culture, scholars studied Korean language, history and literature A new Korea founded on principles of social equality, equality of men and women, and replacement of superstition with rationality
The Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905) -
-
Conflicts led Japan entered into an alliance with Great Britain Prevented Germany and France from supporting Russia in a repetition of the Triple Intervention of 1895 Opened war by Japan against Russia alone February 1904 Japan established a protectorate over Korea Ito’s vision was to maintain an “independent” Korean government that would willingly carry out institutional reforms under Japanese guidance he used Japanese police and regular army units to maintain order while Emperor Kojong was left on the throne Emperor Kojong secretly sent messages to head of European states for help in gaining independence, but Japan outmaneuvered it.
-
Finally, Ito annexed Korean and assassinated by Korean patriot
Japanese Colonial Rule (1910-1945) -
-
3 phases of Japan’s colonial rule 1. Japan created a police state Government-General (GG) of Chosen Eliminated all Korean political participation, restricted Korean business activity, and invested heavily in the promotion of rice cultivation for export to Japan March First Movement: 33 patriots signed a Declaration of Independence and marched peacefully to the Japanese authorities to petition for liberation forced Japan to change its policy 2. Shifted to “cultural government” policy Allowed a certain degree of freedom of speech and association and permitted the establishment of Korean businesses 3. Japan invested huge amounts of capital in heavy industry and infrastructure in Korean in support of Japan’s wars Severely repressed freedom Instituted military conscription, forced labor, and Korean assimilation to Japan Forced Koreans to use the Japanese language, worship the Japanese emperor in Shinto shrines, and adopt Japanese names in an effort to eradicate Korean identity It prevent the modern industrial development & abolishing inherited social status as a barrier to advancement, etc Developmentalism opened the eyes of some Koreans to economic development without liberal democracy
The Land Survey -
To create an efficient land tax for raising revenue, the colonial government adopted a land registration program in 1911 to record the owners of all land Designed to transfer land from Korean owners to Japanese by force or guile 1942, 1.5 million Koreans had settled in Manchuria where Japan provided shelter for anti-Japanese political movements as long as they retained passports issued by colonial authority and dint become naturalized Chinese citizens
The Growth of Korean Industry -
-
In the 1920s, Korean businesses emerged despite limited capital resources The dominant industry in Korean hands other than cheap exiles was food process Most Korean metal factories were no more than blacksmiths’ shops While some argue that Japan took an economic interest in Korea to obtain raw materials and markets for its exports, Japan invested more than it ever received in profits because it put strategic political objects first By 1941, over 90% of the capital invested in Korean industry came from Japan
-
Most weapons were manufactured in Japan, leaving the Korean machine industry repairs, vehicles, and shipbuilding Korean still continued to develop small-scale businesses, but they couldn’t have prospered or survived unless they cooperated with Japan Korea became industrialized, and proletariat expanded
Education and Modern Mass Culture -
GG allowed the publication of newspapers, magazines, and book in Korea, but it subjected all publications to the sharp eyes of Japanese censors Despite Japanese aims to assimilate Koreans to their culture, it established separate and better schools for Japanese students in Korea The coming modernity opened opportunities for women Urban women took the lead in promoting new standards of hygiene and sanitation in rural areas Established education centers
The Rise of Communism and Militant Nationalism -
Soviet union was the only country offering monetary and spiritual support to Koreans and other national liberation movements Although Korean communists opposed joining class enemies in united front, they capitulated Comintern 共產黨第三國際 pressure and joined the New Root Society in 1927
Manchuria -
The Government General of Korea encouraged Koreans to set up their own institutions to govern themselves in Manchuria These Korean military units joined the Soviet Red Army in battles against the Japanese army dispatched to Siberia in 1019 to attack the new Soviet regime Kim II Sung launched the most successful guerrilla raid against the Japanese in Korean peninsula on June 4, 1937 After Japan initiated war with China in 1937, it looked to Korea for support Ebducted or enticed thousands of Korean women with false promises of jobs and then forced them to become “comfort women” for Japanese troops in active theaters of operations
