10. 日本の植民地支配の方式

Summary

In this lecture, Professor Kim Nak-yeon from Dongguk University challenges common misconceptions about Japan's colonial rule in Korea. He critiques Korean textbooks that describe Japan's rule as purely exploitative, emphasizing economic integration and development within Korea under Japanese governance. While acknowledging Japan's aggressive political control, Kim argues that the economic changes, such as currency unification, market integration, and industrial growth, contradict the narrative of widespread exploitation. He warns against using distorted historical interpretations and advocates for a more nuanced understanding of Korea's colonial history.

Takeaways

• 😀 The lecture is presented by Professor Kim Nak-yeon from Dongguk University, focusing on the myth of anti-Japanese nationalism and its roots in historical misconceptions about Japanese colonial rule in Korea.
• 😀 Korean history textbooks often depict the Japanese colonial period as one of exploitation, portraying Japan's actions as purely exploitative, with examples like land seizures and forced economic policies.
• 😀 A key argument presented is the exaggerated claim that Korea's economic situation under Japanese rule was so dire that 80% of the GDP was siphoned off, which is deemed an unrealistic claim.
• 😀 The increase in life expectancy and population in Korea during the Japanese period suggests that claims of total economic collapse and exploitation may be misleading or exaggerated.
• 😀 The portrayal of Japanese colonial rule in textbooks often relies on a flawed understanding of how Japan governed its colonies, particularly regarding the economic changes that occurred during the period.
• 😀 Japan's goal during the colonial period was not only to exploit Korea but to integrate it economically, pursuing a policy of regional integration, essentially aiming to make Korea a part of Japan.
• 😀 On the economic front, Japan introduced a unified currency system between Korea and Japan, with the Korean banknotes being exchangeable for Japanese currency, helping stabilize prices in Korea.
• 😀 The markets between Korea and Japan were integrated with the abolition of most tariffs and the elimination of trade barriers, leading to a fully integrated economic system between the two regions.
• 😀 Japan's legal system was partially implemented in Korea, with several key Japanese laws being applied, like the Civil Code and Commercial Code, aiming for uniformity in the legal environment between the two regions.
• 😀 The lecture critiques textbooks for omitting the fact that Japan's regulations, such as the Company Law, which restricted business activities in Korea, applied equally to both Japanese and Korean companies, allowing for the growth of Korean businesses despite restrictions.
• 😀 Economic indicators show that, despite the challenges, Korean industries and businesses grew significantly during the colonial period, with the rise of both Korean and Japanese-owned factories and companies, challenging the narrative of total exploitation.
• 😀 The lecture concludes by emphasizing that while Japanese colonial rule did involve exploitation and political suppression, it was not characterized by the extreme economic devastation often portrayed in textbooks, which misrepresents the complexity of the era.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the lecture in the provided transcript?

The main theme of the lecture revolves around critiquing the common portrayals of Japanese colonial rule in Korean textbooks, particularly the narrative of economic exploitation. The speaker aims to show that these portrayals often ignore the economic and institutional changes that occurred during Japanese occupation, which had a significant impact on Korea's industrialization.

How do Korean textbooks typically describe the Japanese occupation of Korea?

Korean textbooks typically describe the Japanese occupation as a period of economic exploitation and suffering for the Korean people. They often highlight the forced extraction of resources, such as land and rice, and emphasize the suppression of Korean businesses under the Japanese colonial regime.

What does the speaker say about the argument that Japan extracted 80% of Korea’s GDP during the colonial period?

The speaker argues that this claim is absurd. He points out that if Japan had truly extracted such a large portion of Korea's GDP, it would have resulted in the near collapse of Korea's economy and the impossibility of Korean survival. He mentions that population growth and a significant decrease in death rates during the colonial period contradict this claim.

How does the speaker suggest the narrative in textbooks could be misleading?

The speaker suggests that the narrative in textbooks is misleading because it fails to account for the actual economic changes that took place during the colonial period. This includes the integration of Korea’s economy with Japan's, the development of Korean industries, and the legal and institutional transformations that took place, which are often ignored or misrepresented in the nationalist history taught in schools.

What does the speaker mean by 'economic integration' during the Japanese occupation?

Economic integration refers to the process by which Japan incorporated Korea’s economy into its own. This included the introduction of a unified currency, the removal of trade barriers, the application of Japanese laws in Korea, and the creation of a shared market, all of which made Korea's economy more closely aligned with Japan's.

How were the legal and market systems affected by Japanese rule?

Under Japanese rule, Korea adopted many of Japan’s legal and market systems. For example, currency was unified, and most tariffs between Korea and Japan were eliminated, facilitating the free movement of goods and capital. The Japanese legal system was also partially imposed on Korea, including laws such as the Civil Code and the Commercial Code, which were selectively applied to Korean society.

What evidence does the speaker present to show that Korean industries grew during the colonial period?

The speaker presents statistical evidence showing the rapid growth of Korean-owned factories and businesses during the colonial period. While Japanese businesses initially dominated the industrial landscape, by the late 1920s, Korean-owned factories outnumbered Japanese-owned ones. This growth was despite the constraints placed on Korean businesses by Japanese colonial policies.

How does the speaker address the claim that Japan restricted the growth of Korean businesses through the 'Chosun Company Law' (조선회사령)?

The speaker acknowledges that the Chosun Company Law restricted the establishment of Korean businesses, but points out that it also applied the same restrictions to Japanese businesses in Korea. Additionally, after 1913, due to Japanese businesses' pushback, the regulations were loosened, and by 1920, the law was abolished, which allowed for greater economic development in Korea.

What does the speaker conclude about the economic impact of Japanese rule in Korea?

The speaker concludes that despite the exploitation and political oppression during the Japanese colonial period, Korea underwent significant economic changes. These included the growth of industries, the creation of a more integrated regional economy, and the development of modern infrastructure, which ultimately helped lay the groundwork for Korea’s post-independence economic growth.

Why does the speaker argue against the nationalist interpretation of the Japanese occupation?

The speaker argues against the nationalist interpretation because it often distorts historical facts and creates a narrative of complete victimization. Instead, he urges a more nuanced view that recognizes both the exploitation and the economic transformations that took place, highlighting the importance of evidence-based history to better understand Korea's development during and after Japanese rule.