10.07.

15
Visual Discussion 6
Fluctuating Views of Americans on Colonial Experience of Koreans
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Colonial Period Japanese Rule as positive

During the Asia- Pacific War Korea

Triangular Reality of Colonial Life

Colonialism

Nationalis

Modernizati

Modern Education under Colonial Rule

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Japan introduced the modern education system into Korean with one
of the most proactive educational traditions in the world
A double- edged sword for colonizer and colonized
Education not only gets them ahead in the social hierarchy but also
awakens them to the ironies of colonial realities
o Individuals are torn psychologically
First, before the colonization depending on scholars, 3,000 schools
opened between 1900-1910 for 10 year period before the
colonization.
Restricted private schools established by Koreans before 1910
Korean Educational Ordinance in 1911 (four- year primary
education, 4/3 tear secondary educations, 2-3 year vocational
education)
o 6 year elementary school
5 years middle for boys
4 years middle for girls
After 1919, Japan changed the primary schools to a 6- year
education for all genders
o (1922)
Koreans wanted more education and upward nobility

Social Curriculum
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In primary schools, ratios dedicated to learning Japanese to algebra

changed 39.7 to 18.6 in 1920s, 37.6% to 17.67% in early 1930s,
and 35.2% to 16.5% in late 1930s.

More emphasis on school discipline in 1930s and on

Militaristic, totalitarian and pseudo- religious
Different ceremonies celebrating Emperor, suing Shinto shrines
pseudo- religious rituals

Colonial Contradictions
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In pre-colonial Korea, Choson founded modern systems such as

mining, postal, electric schools and produced 3,600 survey
engineers, Japan converted these school to practical knowledge
centers that carried out low level training.
Japan set up professional training school for science and technology
one-third of enrollment was allocated to Koreans
Kejo Imperial University was founded in 1924