Japanese colonial rule (1910-1945)

The Japanese established a governor-general of Korea as their colony. Their colonial rule is generally divided into three periods.

The first period (1910-1919) is characterized by the government of bayonet. The first Japanese governor Terauchi Masatake, who was the General of the Japanese Army, ruled Korea more inhumane way to establish a stable colonialism. His rule was more despotic and cruel with its strong military police back up. There were two infantry divisions, 40,000 polices and military polices and 20,000 military police assistants, who would successfully control any possible Korean resistance in any part of the country.

Publication of all Koran papers was stopped. Many missionary or other private schools were closed down, all Korean political and social organizations were disbanded, and religious services were put under police surveillance. Many patriotic Koreans were arrested and tortured to death. All the public officers including teachers were forced to wear uniforms and hold swords, thus creating a horrible atmosphere. The colonial government stated that the purpose of education in Korea was to produce loyal and obedient and useful subjects of the Japanese emperor.

With the usurpation of mines and ports with its Company Law, transportation, railroad, roads, ports, finance and communication were taken and put under the control of Japanese. A nationwide land survey carried out to classify the land according to the size of holdings, establish legal ownership or rights to cultivate farmlands, and make the collection of the land tax. The colonial government had already taken over a large amount of land, including forests, formerly owned by the Yi royal families. With the survey, about 40 per cent of the land went into the hands of Japanese. Thus Korean farmers became tenants and 50 per cent of the people suffered from hunger. And many of them had to leave the country for Manchuria or Sakhalin in search of their food.

Colonial government confiscated the rice and grains from the Korean farmers when they experienced a food riot in Japan in 1918. Of the most remarkable political incident during two governor's rule, Terauchi Masatake and Hasekawa Yoshimichi, is the arrest of 105 people. A failure of assassination of Terauchi in 1911 and Japanese plot in association with this incident followed by the arrest of 600 Korean people. Of them 105 people were imprisoned and severely tortured. Harsh suppression and worsening economic conditions, spurred the Koreans at home to launch an independence movement.

And deeply inspired by the principal of self-determination of the people, on March 1, 1919, tens of thousands of citizens of Seoul poured into the streets and at the Pagoda Park. The declaration of Independence was read as the hitherto forbidden Korean national flags waved in the spring air.

The second period (1919-1931) is characterized by Cultural government of deceit. The third governor, naval general Saito Makoto, was more generous on his colonialism. Many has been changed from his rule. Governor's position was opened for civilians.

Korean papers republished, government organizations reorganized, discrimination on Korean people has been cancelled, meetings were allowed, tradition and culture were honored, public positions were opened, civil police replaced the military police, uniforms and swords removed, penalty replaced paddle punishment, Korean principals were accepted in the schools. But, from the rule of Ukaki Kazushike to Abe Nobuyuki, who were both military governors, more severe censorship on the papers. Publications again stopped or papers were confiscated, many journalists had to leave their offices. a great number of polices were added.

During their rule, several hundred thousand patriots and leaders were arrested and tortured. Nationals were divided into Pro and anti-Japanese for their political purposes. More emphasis placed on Japanese history and geography in education.

Nationalism grew among the people. Demonstrations on June 10, 1926 and student uprising in Kwangju marked a political event of the period. Temporarily government established in Shanghai, China. A victory over Japan in Cheongsanri battle brought a massacre of Koreans in Manchuria and Sakhalin.

The third period (1931-1945) is preparatory period for the war. Japan made a war upon China in 1937 and later attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941. Shintoism temples were built around the country. The governor, Minami Jiro, made a considerable reform from 1937. All the schools were named in Japanese way and education contents were instituted in Japanese curriculum. Korean language class cancelled. Koreans should have Japanese names. Koreans were sent to the battle and forced to give their lives for Japan. A succeeding governor, Koiso Kuniaki, took an office in 1942 and requisitioned many Koreans to the mines, arsenals, airport constructions and military camps under the name of Labor Unit for Country. Abe Nobuyuki, a succeeding governor, drafted Korean young men into the battle from August in 1943 and students in 1944. Girls were shipped to the battle front in the pacific islands or China as comfort unit or sent to the arsenals as labor without informing their families. Korea won the independence in August in 1945 with a bombing of Hiroshima and Nakasaki.