TheperiodofJapanesecolonialrule

JungeunLim
During 1920s (1910~1945), the South Korea was colony of Japan. TheKoreanrecognizethis
period as part of most painful and terrible era in history of South Korea. During 1980s, Japans
power grew rapidly after big event called, Meijiyoushin, which made strong Japans military
powerandcapitalism.
The Japan started expand their territory by fighting with Korean citizens. Japanese army
intercepted Korea rules and killed Koreas queen, Muyngseonghawnghoo. The early1900s,the
Russias power was stronger than japan, but Japanese army destroyed the Russia in battle of
JapanandRussia.SonobodyinterferedJapaninAsia.TheKoreawastargetforJapan.
One of the first items of business was a survey of Korean land. Numerous Japanese came to
Korea to farm and to fish its bountiful waters, while high taxes and fixed crop prices forced
thousands of Korean farmers to move to Manchuria or relocate Japan as labors. Japanese big
business and semi governmental organizations established a near monopoly on commerce,
industry,andmining.Progressinagriculture,energy,transportationandcommunicationsystems,
monetary control, and commercial distribution was all of the benefit of the Japanese and to
facilitatetheirconquestofAsia.
In1925,theJapanesegovernmentestablishedtheKoreanHistoryCompilationCommittee,and
it was administered by the Governor General of Korea and engaged in collecting of Korean
historical materials and compilation of Korean history.
They set unique policy such as
prohibiting use korean, learning history of Japan, using Japan money, drafting into Japanese
army, and adoring king of Japan. They killed Koreas culture. Japanese government treated the
Koreans as a conquered people. Until 1921 they were not allowed to publish their own
newspapersortoorganizepoliticalorintellectualgroups.
Japanese army kidnapped Korean women and didsexualviolence.Themostbrutal actionwas
living body test called Matura. Around 10,000 people were tortured and nobodysurvived.They
researched germ, responde of chemical of weapon by using live body human. They autopsied
human without anesthesia, researched embryo, cut legs and arms to research bleeding, put out

organ, or inserted germs into bodytoseeprocess.Also armytorturedKoreanwhospokeKorean

demonstratedagainsttheirpolicy.ToavoidbrutaltorturesomeofKoreansbetrayedcountry.

The independence movement was uproared. The most notable movement was March 1st

Movement of 1919. A declaration of independence was read in Seoul. It is estimated that 2

million people took part in these rallies.The Japaneseviolentlysuppressedtheprotests.Around
46,948werearrested,7,509killed,and15,961wounded.Koreankeptdoingmovement.Because
of loss of Japan during World war 2, their power became weak. Finally, in August 15th 1945,
KoreareleasedfromJapan.EveryAugust15thisholidaytocelebrateindependenceday.

Despite the often oppressive and heavyhanded rule of the Japanese authorities, many

recognizablymodern aspectsofKoreansocietyemerged orgrewconsiderablyduringthe35year

period of colonial rule. These included rapid urban growth, the expansion of commerce, and
forms of mass culture such as radio and cinema, which became widespread for the first time.
Industrialdevelopmentalsotookplace.
This era was most painful period to Korean. KoreastilltrytogetapologyfromJapan,butthey
deniedwhattheydid.Past