Question: Discuss the social, political and economic impact of Japanese annexation (1910) on Korea to 1937. (M19)
Introduction:The Japanese colonisation period from 1910 to 1945 was undeniably a bitter period for Koreans and it touched the lives of
every single Korean, either through the formation of economic system and structures that helped make Japan the epitome of modernity or
through the forced Japanisation of the Korean people that forged national independence and strengthened national unity among Koreans.
IMPACT OF JAPANESE RULE OF KOREA (1910)
SOCIAL POLITICAL ECONOMIC
The effect of Japanese rule on Korean society The political landscape of Japanese colonisation Japanese rule had a largely positive impact on
was exorbitant as Japan’s ruthless destruction of Korea during the first ten year period was the economy of Korea as it fostered
of Korean identity, religion and treatment of oppressive and characterised by harsh considerable growth in industrial and agricultural
women strengthened the traditional emphasis repression that stifled political life. sectors and additionally it forged the economic
Koreans placed on the importance of unity and foundation of modern day South- Korea
fostered nationalist sentiments. however during the period of colonisation, most
Koreans were unable to enjoy the fruits of their
BP1 - Forced Japanisation BP1 - Major protest labour as the Japanese authorities maintained
TS: TS: The Japanese political colonisation on Korea led authority over much of the economy and some
to the first major protest against Japanese rule in rural parts of Korea were worse off under
Evidence: colonial Korea. Japanese rule.
- The teaching of the Korean language and Korean
history was banned and Japanese teachers wore Evidence: BP1 - Tightly controlled
uniforms and carried swords in schools with the aim - In response to the political repressions, the Samil TS: Under the Japanese colonisation from
of striking terror into the hearts of the Korean March 1st movement in 1919 which happened just 1910-1945, almost every facet of the Korean
students. after the death of Emperor Kojong. economy from ownership of land to finance and the
- The perception of Korea as a backward and industrial scene had been controlled by Japan.
primitive society compared to Japan was common in - The protest comprised of the gathering of large
the new textbooks created by the Japanese. crowds and mass demonstrations that included Evidence:
people who mourned the deaths of the Emperor. - The Annual Report for 1910, when Japanese
- Effect: The constant desecration and oppression of ownership of arable land came just under
4% but
Korean students reached a tipping point on the 30th - The main catalyst for major action leading up to the had risen to around
a third by 1930.
of October 1929 as Japanese boys harassed some March First Movement was the death of Emperor - The percentage of the rice crop being exported to