Japanese Colonization
1910-1945
Background: Sino-Japan War
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Japan adopted modernization campaign, during
Meiji period (1868 - 1912);
Drive to expand into East Asia led to war with
China in 1894 – 1895;
Japan won, got 200 million ounces of silver as
war reparation; took Taiwan as colony;
China lost its claim on Korea as its sphere of
influence.
Background: Russo-Japan War
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With China out of the picture, Japan and Russia
intensified competition over Korea;
Japan attacked Russian Baltic Fleet in Feb. 1904;
In May 1905, Japan destroyed the Russian fleet,
winning the war
Japan got complete control of Korea – Treaty of
Portsmouth, Sept. 1905 (in Maine in USA) !!!
Secret agreement with US: US – the Philippines, JapanKorea;
Portsmouth treaty mandated Japan’s withdrawal from
Manchuria – planting a seed for later confrontations.
Steps of Japan’s Colonization of
Korea
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1905: Protectorate Treaty between Japan/Korea;
1905: Japanese residency-general took control of
Korea
1907: King Gojung was forced out;
1907: Korean army was disbanded by force in
1910: Korea-Japan Annexation Treaty was
signed, completing colonization of Korea.
Korea under Japanese Rule
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Japan considered Korea as inferior;
Japan regarded Korea as a foothold on Asia continent;
Korea was used as a spring board to expand control into the Asian continent;
Japan regarded Korea was a source of natural resources and labor;
Japanese investment in railways and industrial bases to facilitate the
exploitation;
The colonial rule was harsh and ruthless.
Saedamen Jail and its Tortune Chamber
“Japanization” of Korea
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Colonization measures intensified in 1930’s;
Resistance brutally suppressed;
Korean language were banned in schools;
Koreans were forced to take Japanese names;
Korean shamanism banned in favor of Shinto worship;
Royal Palaces in Seoul dismantled and part of it turned
into a zoo;
Japan’s colonial policy – “The only way for Koreans to
live was to become perfectly Japanese.”
At the same time, discrimination was rampant – an
ironic contrast to Japan’s colonial policy.
Japanese Rule during WWII
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Korea made into a supply base for war efforts;
Heavy taxes, life in Korea become very hard;
500,000 Korean men drafted into military
and hard labor;
Korean soldiers were mis-treated, in turn,
they mis-treated their victims;
20,000 “Comfort women”.
Young Korean Conscripts
Korean laborers
Resistance Movements
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“Righteous Army” resistance 1895-1910;
March 1, 1919 – independence demonstration;
Overseas Provisional Government 1919-1945;
Independent army;
Assassinations of Japanese military/government leaders
in and out of Korea;
Koreans joined Chinese armies during WWII (Kim Ilson).
End of Colonization
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Japan lost World War II to China, USSR and USA;
Surrender of Japan on August 15, 1945;
Korea won Liberation; BUT
North Korea – under USSR control;
South Korea – under USA control;
A Long and painful separation
DMZ Museum
of the 2 Koreas began.
North-South
Confrontation
Questions
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What two wars that Japan waged to pave its way to a
complete control of Korea?
What are examples of the mistreatment of Koreans
under Japan’s colonization?
What series of events led to the separation of two
Koreas at the end of WWII?
Compare the Japan’s colonization of Korea with
another colonization that you have studied (e.g. British
colonization of America.) What were the similarities
and differences? Why were there these similarities and
differences?