Koreans begin to see their history as it is.

[Shinpachi]

A Korean historian Lee Young-hoon, a former professor of Seoul National University, recently published a very controversial book in Korea titled "反日種族主義 (Anti-Japanese Tribalism)" in which he confirms what I mentioned in several threads of this forum before with more scientific data. English edition may be available in the future but contents can be known roughly like this.

"It was uncomfortable. As I read the book, my common sense and values clashed with "proof" in the book. Former Seoul National University professor Lee Young-hoon published "Anti-Japanese Tribalism." Former opposition leader Hong Joon-pyo said, "This is not right," and senior opposition lawmaker Chang Je-won felt a "headache and [was] insulted." Cho Kuk, former senior secretary for civil affairs to President Moon Jae-in, said, "It was disgusting." Nevertheless, I must confess I was interested in the facts and views. If so, am I a pro-Japanese collaborator selling out the country?

A newspaper column summed it up this way: "The authors claim that there was no anti-human rights cruelties such as forced labor, food exploitation and sex slavery during the Japanese colonial period. They argue that many young Koreans voluntarily pursued 'romantic ideas' for money and went to Japan that was ahead of Korea." Quoting the column, former Blue House secretary Cho Kuk, now a justice minister nominee, posted on social media, "I do not know what to call the scholars, who openly make these claims, and some politicians and journalists, who support the claims, anything else than pro-Japanese collaborators." A broadcaster even had a violent altercation with the author on the street.............................................................."

Source: http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=3066865

 

[mikewint]

At the time of Japan's annexation of Korea in 1910, several thousand Korean students, merchants, and workers, who had entered Japan during the first four decades after the Meiji Restoration in 1868 lived on the main Japanese islands.

In the 1920s, the Japanese economy experienced a shortage of labor. In response, Koreans seeking better educational and employment opportunities migrated to Japan. Since many were poorly educated and illiterate, Korean workers engaged in manual and menial work, along with Burakumin and Okinawans. In particular, Korean workers dominated jobs in construction and mining.

By 1930, ethnic Koreans constituted a recognizable social group in major Japanese cities. They often received much lower wages than ethnic Japanese and congregated in Korean ghettoes because of poverty and discrimination. By the mid-1930s, almost a third of Koreans were born in Japan. Between 1920 and 1930, the number of Koreans in Japan increased to 419,000.

While Korean immigration to Japan prior to World War II was largely voluntary, wartime labor shortages led to enforced migration. Between 1939 and 1945, the Japanese government brought 700,000-800,000 Koreans to work in Japan. Over 200,000 ethnic Koreans fought for the Japanese empire. By 1945, the number of Koreans peaked at approximately 2 million. Up to 30,000 ethnic Koreans died in the atomic bomb explosion in Hiroshima.

Following Japan's defeat in World War II, the majority of ethnic Koreans (1-1.4 million) left Japan. By 1948, the population of ethnic Koreans settled around 600,000. Ethnic Koreans who remained in Japan did so for diverse reasons, successful careers in business, the imperial bureaucracy, and the military which allowed them to maintain a relatively privileged status in Japanese society. In fact, some Koreans who repatriated were so repulsed by the poor conditions they observed that they decided to return to Japan. For ethnic Koreans who had ethnic Japanese spouses and Japanese-born, Japanese-speaking children, it made more sense to stay in Japan.

Although Koreans in Japan prior to World War II suffered racial discrimination, Japanese authorities nonetheless counted ethnic Koreans as Japanese nationals and sought to fully assimilate them. Following the war, however, the Japanese government defined ethnic Koreans as foreigners, no longer recognizing them as Japanese nationals. Ethnic Koreans were even excluded from the rights granted to non-nationals in Japan's postwar constitution. Post war Koreans living in Japan were now referred to as "Zainichi", or "residing in Japan" reflecting the overall expectation that these Koreans were living in Japan on a temporary basis and would soon return to Korea.
By December 1945, Koreans lost their voting rights and employment policies excluded Koreans from all "Japanese" jobs. Koreans were effectively barred from all public and private-sector employment.
In 1947, the Alien Registration Law consigned ethnic Koreans to alien status.

The 1950 Nationality Law stripped Zainichi children with Japanese mothers of their Japanese nationality; only children with Japanese fathers would be allowed to keep their Japanese citizenship.
As of 1952, former colonial subjects–the majority of whom were Korean--whose homeland was not recognized by Japan as a legitimate nation-state (including Korea) were rendered stateless.
In 1955, a law required that all registered foreigners be fingerprinted.

In the 1970s, new social movements encouraged the assertion of a Zainichi identity. Koreans led an anti-fingerprinting movement and a "real-name" initiative that asserted the ethnicity of naturalized Koreans. Some sought to create a Koreatown. Others sought to win local suffrage rights.

By the early 1980s Zainichi political activism lead to local authorities hiring Korean nationals for civil service positions.
By the mid-1980s, the proportion of ethnic Koreans in medical and scientific fields was twice that of the ethnic Japanese population.
In 1985, revision of Japan's nationality laws eliminated the patrilineal descent of citizenship.
In 1987, it became possible for naturalized Koreans to keep their ethnic Korean names.

By the 1990s, the ideas of colonialism and racism had changed dramatically under pressure from the international community as well as from domestic social groups. As a result Japanese attitudes about discrimination towards ethnic minorities had changed
By 1991, permanent residency status was granted to almost the entire Zainichi population.
By 1993, the practice of forced fingerprinting during alien registration for permanent residents was abolished.
In the 2000s, South Korean celebrities and third-generation Zainichi openly and proudly announced their Korean heritage. Over 10,000 Zainichi chose to naturalize every year

 

[Shinpachi]

..... chose to naturalize every year. In contrast to first-generation Zainichi who had experienced the darkest decades of exclusion and discrimination in the 1950s and 1960s, successive generations who came of age no longer took for granted that naturalization was an act of ethnic betrayal. Rather, many Zainichi today consider naturalization as a matter of individual choice and embrace the possibility of a Korean-Japanese identity.

Good summary, Mike.

 

[mikewint]

Thanks Shinpachi san

 

[Shinpachi]

My pleasure

 

[Shinpachi]

A Korean boy who also introduced the book in Youtube says "I receive many warnings from Koreans that they would kill me. If I do not post for a long time, please call police....." Yes, I will but he seems to be living in New Zealand.
Any historical change seems to be going on in his homeland.

 

[michael rauls]

Wow, as with most of the history we are commonly taught, there is so much more to the story.

 

[mikewint]

History would be a wonderful thing if only it were true
That History repeats itself and that History never repeats itself are equally true
God cannot alter the past but Historians can
History is the sum total of all things that could have been avoided
Most History is just dirty politics cleaned up for the consumption of children and other innocents

 

[Shinpachi]

They seem to have been back to the 1910s.

Pro-Japanese attacks.



Anti-Japanese attacks.

 

[Zipper730]

God cannot alter the past but Historians can

Yeah, there's a problem with that.

On one hand, there's revisionism which can be good as, things are sometimes kept secret, and hidden, and are ultimately revealed as time goes on. Some countries like the UK routinely keep secrets for around 60-70 years which, in the past, would have made sense. That said, the rate of technological advancement, means that so much can happen in that timeframe, that it becomes dangerous to keep secrets that long, except in the most extreme circumstances.

The problem with revisionism is that..

1. Some people will include negationism under revisionism: Their goal isn't about improving the record, it's about glossing over, downplaying, or outright erasing facts from records. As George Orwell said: He who controls the present, controls the past.
2. Some will apply a modern viewpoint that didn't exist: It can sometimes be useful to illustrate the attitudes of the past compared to now, and contrast them. That said, it could be like saying a person should have known how to fly to the moon in 1492. Sure the Chinese had some experience with fire-arrows (rockets), but that was over in China, and I'm not sure any of them knew enough about supersonic flight, kinetic heating, and guidance systems to allow a person to build and fly a spacecraft to the moon and back.

Most History is just dirty politics cleaned up for the consumption of children and other innocents

Or as I say it: The old people dictate what the young get to read; they often have a way of removing their sins from the pages (the term 'sins' is figurative -- I don't care if you're religious or not).

 

[Shinpachi]

Escalating as mass confrontation in Seoul on August 24, 2019.
They will go to the end.

Source:
광화문 채운 한국당 "문재인 하야" 외치며 靑으로
데일리안 - Yous is the news

 

[michaelmaltby]

.... it should be clear by now that this behavior against Japan is orchestrated ... it should also be clear that a unified Korea would be a left-leaning industrial combatant ... Japan's crackdown on the export of strategic materials to SK ... and the orchestrated response: "... 'wartime' issues outstanding .."
SK - impressive as it and its people are - is a whiny sister.

My current fantasy playmate is Chinese American pianist Yuja Wang. Being interviewed she reacted to a question about "guilt" with this: "I'm Chinese. We don't do guilt. We do Zen".
Let's all remember that little gem ... rhymes with Zen.

 

[mikewint]

it should be clear by now that this behavior against Japan is orchestrated ... it should also be clear that a unified Korea would be a left-leaning industrial combatant ... Japan's crackdown on the export of strategic materials to SK ... and the orchestrated response: "... 'wartime' issues outstanding .."
SK - impressive as it and its people are - is a whiny sister.

It's a complicated issue exacerbated by past colonial treatment and today's economics.
In the 1965 treaty, which established diplomatic ties between the two countries, Japan paid the equivalent of $300 million ($2.4 billion in today's money) and extended $200 million in low-interest loans. The treaty said all claims are "settled completely and finally." The South Korea then invested that money in industries that eventually helped turn it into an economic powerhouse. Recently (2018) in spite of that treaty South Korea's Supreme Court ruled that several victims had not been compensated for their emotional pain and suffering.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. was ordered to pay as much as $134,000 to each of 10 claimants, while Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corp. was ordered to pay $88,000 each to four plaintiffs. A South Korean court then ordered the seizure of shares valued at about $356,000 that Nippon Steel has in a joint venture with South Korean steelmaker Posco, a move Tokyo calls unlawful and is trying to block.

In addition there are more than a dozen such cases pending in South Korea involving about 70 companies that used an estimated 725,000 Korean workers that were conscripted to work in the mining, construction, and shipbuilding industries in mainland Japan, Sakhalin and the southern Pacific islands. Most of these laborers have died, but some of their family members have sought legal standing to sue.

Then there is the 'comfort women' controversy. During WWII anywhere from 50,000 to 200,000 women (many of them Korean) were forced into service in Japan's military brothels. At present here are fewer than two dozen known survivors. In 2015, Japan and South Korea announced a "final and irreversible" agreement that came with a personal apology to the women from Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as well as about $8 million for a compensation fund. Many South Koreans opposed the deal, which was signed without consulting the victims, some of whom refused the money in protest. Under President Moon Jae-in, who took office in 2017, South Korea said it would shut down the fund which angered Tokyo. Then South Korea's National Assembly Speaker Moon Hee-sang said in a Feb. 7 interview with Bloomberg News that Japan's then-Emperor Akihito -- whom the speaker called "the son of the main culprit of war crimes" -- should hold hands with the women and personally apologize to them to end the dispute. Japan demanded an apology and retraction. Then on 30 April 2019 Emperor Akihito abdicated (The 85-year-old Emperor was given permission to abdicate after saying he felt unable to fulfill his role because of his age and declining health.)

As a result of these disputes Japan has invoked a part of the 1965 treaty that calls for arbitration for disputes that can't be settled by normal diplomatic means. It rejected a South Korean proposal for a joint compensation fund to resolve the forced-labor dispute, seeing it as a breach of international law. In August, the Japanese government said it would remove South Korea from a list of trusted export destinations, a so-called "white list" of countries that benefit from less stringent trade checks. That followed a move in July to restrict exports of materials vital to South Korean manufacturers of semiconductors and computer displays. South Korea reacted in late August by saying it would withdraw from a military intelligence-sharing agreement with Japan.

Exactly what effect Japan's white list decision have is unclear since the government hasn't explained how strictly it will enforce export controls on the roughly 900 or more products affected. South Korean companies argued that the export curbs would severely affect their production, while U.S. companies claimed that could cause a global supply chain disruption. The Japan-Korea friction has never escalated before into a major threat to economic or military ties. The Japanese and South Korean militaries argued in December over an incident where Japan claims a South Korean ship used a weapons-targeting radar on one of its patrol planes, which Seoul says was flying in a provocative manner

S. Korea's economy is heavily dependent upon imports and exports. Exports for the first 20 days of August fell 13 per cent from a year earlier, a ninth successive monthly decline. In addition sales of semiconductors (one of its most valuable exports) fell 30 per cent, while exports to China (its largest trading partner) fell 20 per cent. Because of South Korea's reliance on Import/Export/Electronics its economy is disproportionately exposed to the US-China trade war and the associated technology war, as well as the slowdown in semiconductor demand.

 

[Shinpachi]

Thanks for kind explanations about the historical background, MM and Mike.

Moon Jae-in as SK President loves Japanese "Sushi" almost every week and his wife Kim Jung-sook as First Lady is a master of Japanese "Tea Ceremony".

Anti-Japanese as well as anti-US behind it is Moon Jae-in's excuse to bring his country into communism.
He is willing to destroy SK economy too because it would be another good excuse for him to nationalize the groups of enterprises like Samsung, LG and Hyundai. This is a revolution being attempted in the 21st century.

 

[michaelmaltby]

I agree .... "attempted" revolution ... the play is still in motion.

SKians know that the unification of Germany was very costly for West Germans ... they don't want a repeat.
With unification salaries will stagnate .... right now SK is high from riding an economic wave ... just as Hong Kong was prior to 1997. Workers in HK have seen no standard of living increase since 1997.

 

[Shinpachi]

If I may include China,

One of the most influential journalists and educators in the 19th century Japan, the founder of Keio-gijuku University in Tokyo, Yukichi Fukuzawa (1835-1901), summarized his view on how Japan should cope with her neighbors China and Korea as "Datsu-A Ron (脱亜論 = Good-bye Asia Theory)" in 1885.
This still looks true to me.


"The path for the worldly transportations had become convenient.The wind of the Western civilization has blown to the East; even the grasses must sway to the current of this wind when it arrives. The Westerners were never much different from what they are at the present as compared to their past. The ancient ones acted slowly, yet they now became swiftly to their actions only due to their utilization of the transportation advancements. Unless we want to prevent the coming of this Western civilization with a firm resolve, it is best that we cast our lot with them. If one observes carefully what is happening in the present world, one should realize the futility of preventing the onslaught of Western civilization. Why shall we not float with them (the West) in the same ocean of civilization, sail the same waves, and enjoy the fruits and endeavours of civilization? Civilization is like the rapidly spreading of measles. The measles in Tokyo began and came from Nagasaki in the western realm of Japan. It (the pandemic) extends and spreads out like the warmth of spring thaw.

We may loathe the affects from the infectious disease, yet is there any effective approach to prevent it? I can prove with solidity that there is no such way. People can only witness and embrace the forceful wrath of the disease in a pandemic. Yet, for the case of civilization, damages arrive accompanied with benefits; and often benefits count far more than lost. Since it is impossible to prevent such cause (the coming of this Western civilization), it is only wise to indulge our strength into the assisting of the spread so that our people may bath in this force as soon as possible.

Recent Western civilization entered our Japan from the beginning of the reign of Kaei (1848-1854). Our people gradually discovered and adapted to the advantages and thrived. However, the old-fashioned government stood in the way of progress. It was a dire conundrum that could not be solved. As long as the government continues to preserve (the old-fashioned mindset), civilization cannot enter. Modern civilization and Japan's old conventions stand in two extremes. If we were to depart from our old believes and approaches, it is in the same time (that we have) to abolish our government. On the other hand, shall we obstruct this invasion of civilization, Japan shall loose its independence.

It is in no possible ways that the struggle of the world civilization would permit this lonely island of the East slumbers in isolation. My noble Japanese country men, it is our principle to recognize the need of the country over the weight of the government. Through the reliance of the Imperial Household's dignity, we shall overthrow the old government and establish a new one. Everyone in the country shall completely adopt the modern Western civilization. (It is from doing so) Not only that Japan may strip away its old self, it will create a new axle in the entire continent of Asia, and this is where the essential ideology of the mere two words of "Datsu-A" – depart from Asia –lies.

My country – Japan, is located in the eastern boarder of Asia. Yet the spirit of the Japanese people has already departed from the ugliness of the Asian milieu and shifted toward to the Western civilization. However, it is unfortunate for us (Japan) that there are neighbouring countries. One is called Shina (China). The other one is named Chosen (Korea). From ancient times, no difference from us Japanese, these two people (Chinese and Korean) have been nurtured by Asiatic politics, religions, and traditions. However, maybe it is due to the differences in racial origins (even though we share the same Asiatic teachings), there are differences in heredity and education. Comparing the three countries – Japan, China, and Korea – there are more similarities between China and Korea. Together, China and the Korea are more different than similar to us. No matter in an individual context or as a nation, the people of these two countries do not know the way to progress.

In the world that transportation and traffic had become so convenient, they (the Chinese and the Koreans) have no excuses to be blinded from the recognizing of civilization. However, even they can see *it (*the signs of the progression of civilization) or hear *it, they lack the will to act. Their stubbornly love affairs with the ancient mentality and outdated customs have never changed in hundreds and thousands of years. When this new and effervescent theater discuss upon the topic of education, they (the Chinese and Korean) only trace back to Confucianism. In terms of education in schools, they can only refer to benevolence, integrity, decorum, and wisdom. On the surface, they counterfeit the intactness of things. In truth, they neglect righteous principles. Similar to any arrogant being who knows not of self-examinations, they have depleted morality to the extreme of shamelessness.

In my opinion, it is impossible that these two countries (China and Korea) can remain nationally independent under this violent wind of civilization eastward. If they are fortunate to have noble heroes to stand up, they should first begin with the improvements of their national matters. Like the massive scale of our Meiji Restoration, they should engage in activities to modify and reform their governments so that the hearts of their people maybe renewed. If they depart from such approach, it is most likely that their empires will fall within few years from now. It is without any doubts that their lands will be carved up by the civilized nations from around the world. The spread of civilization and enlightenment are like the infectious force of measles. China and Korea defied the natural law of its spread.

Hiding in a room knowing that they cannot hide from the matter, they attempt to cut off the air circulation by shutting sealed the area. Similar to the relations between our lips and teeth (that they exist in an inseparable relationship), neighboring countries shall assist each other. Currently, China and Korea have not even offer a single drip of assistance to my Japan. Viewing from the eyes of the Westerners, they must be judging and viewing us as how they do to China because of the geographical proximity. For example, rule of law cannot be sustained (in those places) when the governments of China and Korea remain in their old-fashioned despotism. Westerners may suspect that Japan is an equally lawless nation. Both the Chinese and Korean people are so entangled into their superstitious beliefs and know nothing about science. Western scholars may also think that Japan too is a country devoted to the Yin Yang and the Five Elements.

The Chinese are shameless people who do not understand humbleness and humility, even the chivalric compassions of the Japanese people are overwhelmingly shrouded by them. Koreans are extremely atrocious when punishing their own people; Japanese people would too be speculated (by the Westerners) as such (brutal people). There are countless things similar to the listed ones. In metaphor, it is no different than that a man's righteous deeds would be shrouded by the ugliness of his neighbors' actions when he is the rare one who lives in a village or a town that is known for their (the villagers') foolishness and cruelty. These negative impacts (from the observation of the said analogies) on reality have indirectly conjured problems to our diplomatic affairs. It is a great misfortune for my Japan.

That is why shall we think for the Japan today, we (the Japanese people) do not have the luxury of time to wait for the enlightenment of our neighboring countries – China and Korea – to work together toward the development of Asia. It is our best strategy to leave the ranks of Asian nations and cast our lot with the civilized nations of the West. As for our approach to the treating of China and Korea, there shall be no special treatment just because they are our neighboring countries. Simply adapt the ways of the Westerners is sufficed. Those who cherish bad friends cannot escape the fate of being branded as a bad person. My heart and determination lie in the refusal of bad friends.

Yukichi Fukuzawa, Jiji Shimpo, March 16th, 1885"

Source: https://tspace.library.utoronto.ca/bitstream/1807/18797/1/Kwok_Dwight_TW_200911_MA_thesis.pdf

Original text

 

[Shinpachi]

Park Yu-ha (1957- ), a professor of the College of Liberal Arts of Sejong University in Seoul, Korea published a controversial book "Comfort Women of the Empire" in 2013. In the book, she clearly defined the comfort women during the wartime as "prostitutes" showing original testimonies and data. She has been sued by the local prosecutor because she insulted her country. The trial is still on progress.

Source: '제국의 위안부' 박유하 교수 항소심서 유죄…벌금 1천만원

 

[Shinpachi]

In Korea, unlike many emotional people, some logical people talk like this interview.

정규재 vs 박유하 (Jeong Gyu-jae vs Park Yu-ha)

 

[Shinpachi]

Legacy resurects.

North Korean propaganda media, the "Korean People", criticized the book "Anti-Japanese Tribalism" and the authors as traitors on the 6th.

Source: https://www.seoul.co.kr/news/newsView.php?id=20190906500048


North Korean bar will appear in Seoul soon.
There was a Japanese bar until the anti-Japanese movement broke out.

Source: 인공기 내건 홍대 앞 북한식 술집, '국보법 위반'일까

Recent movement between NK and SK seems to be tightly linked.
Japanese communist party is also in the link.
Legacy was alive.

 

[michaelmaltby]

Keep our attention focused, Shin, this is an important story.
Reunification of the Ks will have notable consequences for our world .... reunification of the Ks under a communist regime will have disastrous consequences for our global balance.