[KS] Publication Announcement: Korea Journal, vol. 50, no. 4

[Korea Journal]

Dear list members,
 
We are pleased to announce the publication of Korea Journal, vol. 50, no. 4. As the year 2010 marks the 100th anniversary of Japan’s annexation of Korea in 1910, this issue addresses Japanese colonialism and its postcolonial legacy as its special topic. Postcolonialism refers to what comes after colonialism, which is interpreted as an “external policy to obtain and maintain colonies,” in the temporal sense. It entails the two opposing aspects of continuation of and reconciliation with colonialism. In other words, it implicates a dual meaning that while a former colony has been liberated from its colonizer in form, a struggle between those that seek to do away with colonialism and others that try to maintain it is still going on. Such dual signification of postcolonialism can be applied to the reality of today’s Korea.
 
Based on these definitions, this Winter 2010 issue includes four papers on colonialism and two on postcolonialism. With regard to colonialism, one paper discusses the (il)legality of the annexation of Korea by Japan is discussed, with an introduction of a debate among Korean and Japanese scholars on its (in)validity under international law; another paper compares the legislation systems of the Japanese Governments-General of Korea and Taiwan to examine the nature of Japanese governance policy in the colonies; the third paper reviews dualistic society in Korea under the Japanese colonial domination, which is attributable to the fact that a multitude of Japanese people resided in colonial Korea; and the last paper points out the problems of the debates between the exploitation theory and the colonial modernization theory, noting also the limitations of the colonial modernity theory that arose in a critical response to them. As for postcolonialism, one paper addresses the importance of today’s international conditions in defining perspectives on Japan’s annexation of Korea, one of which is the idea of the East Asian community, while the other paper deals with the relations between Korea’s reconciliation with the colonial past and peace in East Asia.
 
In addition to these, an article on pension politics in Korea and a review of a book on Joseon’s state rites for disasters are included.
 
The contents of the issue are as follows: 
 
Special Topic: The Centennial of Japan's Annexation of Korea: Rethinking Annexation and Postcolonial Legacy
 
PARK Chan Seung and KIM Hyun-ju / [On this topic] The Centennial of Japan's Annexation: Rethinking Annexation and Postcolonial Legacy
 
PARK Pae-Keun / Discussions Concerning the Legality of the 1910 “Annexation” of Korea by Japan
 
LEE Seung-il / Characteristics of Japan’s Annexation of Korea and the Japanese Colonial System: A Comparison of Korean and Taiwanese Legislation System
 
PARK Chan Seung / Japanese Rule and Colonial Dual Society in Korea
 
CHA Seung Ki / The Colonial-Imperial Regime and Its Effects: Writer Kim Sa-ryang as an Ex-ception
 
RYU Junpil / Several Present Conditions Defining 100 Years of Japan’s Annexation of Korea
 
KIM Dong-Choon / Korea’s Movement to Settle the Issues of the Past and Peace in East Asia
 
 
ARTICLES
 
JOO Eun-Sun / Pension Politics in Korea after Democratization: The Failed Attempts of Party Politics and Social Dialogue
 
 
BOOK REVIEW
 
KIM Moon-sik / How the Joseon Kingdom Dealt with Disasters
 
 
 
 
Taking this opportunity, we would like to remind the list members that we welcome any submissions relevant to the field of Korean Studies. 
 
Best regards,
 
Korea Journal
Tel: 82-2-755-6224/6225
Fax: 82-2-755-7477
Web site: www.ekoreajournal.net