Japanese colonial period (1910-1945)

Colonial period lasted from 1910-1945. Joseon Had been in Japan's sphere of influence since the
signing of the Japan Korea treaty of 1876. Korea was pressured into signing the unequal treaty
(gunboat diplomacy) the treaty gave Japanese merchants incredible powers over Korea. Article 1
stated “that Korea was a free nation, "an independent state enjoying the same sovereign rights as does
Japan". The Japanese statement is in an attempt to detach Korea once and for all from its traditional
tributary relationship with China.

The Korean empire which was proclaimed in 1897 became a protectorate of Japan after the Japan Korea
treaty 1905. A result of Japan's win in the Russo Japanese war (Korea looked towards Russia to
modernise not Japan) emperor was threatened after Japanese troops encircled the imperial palace.
Indirect rule by the Resident-General of Korea until annexation in 1910. Korea would be renamed
Chosen. Modernisation industrialisation and Japanisation followed.

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Abusing of the Korean people

 Ethnic Korean forced to change to Japanese names

 Million conscripted to work and fight for Japan's war efforts
 Korean women and girls (ages 12-17) sold to Japanese men as sex slaves “comfort women”
possibly up to 500,000
 Resources and food exported to Japan
 Free education focused on assimilating Koreans into the Japanese empire
 Prohibited the teaching and speaking of Korean
 Experimented on (unit 731)
 . In one instance, Japanese police in the village of Teigan, Suigen District, Keiki Prefecture
(now Jeam-ri, Hwaseong, Gyeongggi Province) herded everyone into a church, locked it, and
burned it to the ground. They also shot through the burning windows of the church to
ensure that no one made it out alive. Many participants of the 1 March Movement were
subjected to torture and execution.

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Ww2
US administration

It was against this backdrop the Americans arrived following the surrender of Japan

The United States Army Military Government in Korea (USAMGIK) was the official ruling body of the
Southern half of the Korean Peninsula from 8 September 1945 to 15 August 1948.

Plagued in political and economic chaos effects of Japanese occupation. Discontent over the dissolution
of the people's republic of Korea, keeping Japanese governors on as advisors. Refused to recognise the
provisional government of the republic of Korea led by Kim Ku.

US arrived with no knowledge of the language of political situation and with waves of north Korean
refugees.

Shortly before the US arrival of Japan a hastily formed provisional peoples republic of Korea was created
in collaboration with Japan. The US outlawed it in the south and it would go on to merge with other
parties to eventually form north Korea.

The allies divided Korea along the 38th parallel. US occupied the south from 1945 – 1948. Washington
decided to delegate Korea over to general Douglas MacArthur as the supreme commander for the allied
powers. US forces landed in Incheon on 8th September and established a government thereafter.

Government was hostile to leftism but initially tried to tolerate left wing parties

Korean advisory council

Korean General strike/ Autumn Uprising of 1946

December 8th government outlawed strikes. Organised by communist party of Korea. Started with Busan
railway workers but spread quickly spread throughout the country and industries. October 1st the military
government fired upon a strike protest in Daegu. This spiralled into to autumn uprising

Large scale confrontations between communists and the government continued on Jeju Island leading to
10’s of thousands of deaths, escalating after independence in 1948.

1948 elections

First republic 1948-1960

Founded august

Second republic
Third republic
Fourth republic
Sixth republic