[KS] Re: Japanese Colonization Period

[Dr. John Caruso Jr.]

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Carlon,

The Japanese tried for hundreds of years to conqueror the Koreans, then
later to suppress or perhaps eradicate those elements of culture that made
the Korean people for thousands of years Korean.  Change their names, forbid
their language, history, culture and make them obedient servants of the
Showa Emperor. Big brother - little brother syndrome.

Today, Korean residents in Japan after 55 years are still humiliated,
shunned by Zaibutsu, undereducated, rarely intermarry, because many Japanese
view the Koreans as a culturally inferior people suitable for second class
status not citizenship.

It is very difficult for any historian to sort out the facts you are seeking
while the Japanese refuse to officially apologize or even acknowledge what
they did to the Korean people during 1910-45.  If Emperor Hirohito was
hanged like the other Nurnberg War Crimes Trial defendants perhaps there
would be a more balanced view of the colonial occupation.

John

----- Original Message -----
From: "Carlon Haas" <king_of_seoul at yahoo.com>
To: <korean-studies at iic.edu>
Sent: Saturday, September 02, 2000 12:55 PM
Subject: Japanese Colonization Period


> REPLY sends your message to the whole list
> __________________________________________
>
> Hello to all on the list,
>
> I am in need of help.  My wife (she's Korean) and I
> got into a bit of an argument over a touchy Korean
> history subject: the Japanese Colonial Period.  I have
> read books written by Koreans that were subsequently
> translated into English.  When it comes to the
> Japanese period, the phrasing starts to change from
> fact into vaired opinons, such as "It was the darkest
> period of Korean history", "the brutal japanese
> regime", etc.  Although I think this was a horrible
> period in Korean history, I cannot condone this
> historical methodology.  So, I ask the venerable
> scholars on this list if:
>
> 1.  There is any book available in Korean written by a
> Korean historian that goes into any detail about the
> period in a factual way.  Especially if any book
> delves into the roles of the collaborators.
>
> 2,  For those who went through the Korean educational
> system, what di you learn about that period in school?
>
> I have broached on this subject wiht Koreans, but I
> get a very emotional response.  It's like talking
> about racism in America.  So, are there any books one
> an recommend?  Do these kinds of books exist?  I don;t
> like to argue about these things, and if these books
> exist in Korean I feel I should read them.
>
> Thanks,
>
> =====
> Carlon Haas
>
> http://www.geocities.com/king_of_seoul
>
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