[KS] Koreans in Japanese Internment Camps in WW II?

[Jim Hoare]

I assume that this means "Internment camps for Japanese". If so, then I am 
sure that many Koreans were detained - Koreans were, after all, viewed 
internationally as Japanese citizens _ nothing to do with taking Japanese 
names, but a consequence of the annexation of Korea in 1910 and its 
subsequent status as a Japanese colony.

I do not have the details to hand, but in the British case, Koreans were 
officially enemy aliens until the 1952 Japanese Peace Treaty. This was true 
even after the establishment of the ROK, which Britain recognized. However, 
while this remained the legal position after 1948, as far as I know in fact 
nobody tried to treat Koreans as Japanese citizens after 1948. Before that, 
of course, a number of Koreans were tried as minor war criminals by British 
(and other) courts. The relevant papers on much of this can be found in the 
FO371 and WO series of papers at the National Archives in Kew.

Jim Hoare
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bert Edens" <bedens at apprenticeis.com>
To: <Koreanstudies at koreaweb.ws>
Sent: Wednesday, September 29, 2004 6:34 PM
Subject: [KS] Koreans in Japanese Internment Camps in WW II?


> Greetings, all...
> Does anyone know of any documented occurrences of Koreans being 
> incarcerated in one of the many Japanese internment camps during World War 
> II? It seems plausible considering the hysteria and general lack of 
> knowledge regarding the difference between Asians. Considering also that 
> Koreans were also subject to using Japanese names during the occupation, 
> it could be even more possible, although I would assume Koreans here would 
> have not used Japanese names.
> Thank you in advance for your time...
>
> - Bert Edens
>
>