What was the reality of the most brutal colonial rule in human history?

409: <丶｀∀´>（´・ω・｀）（｀ハ´）さん: 2011/09/04 (Sun) 20:24:28.19 ID:mYsM/f3H

What was the "brutal colonial rule in human history" by the Japanese Empire?

 If the Joseon Dynasty had been powerful enough to serve as a buffer state between Russia and Japan, Japan would not have had to resort to costly direct rule.

 Ito Hirobumi, the first Resident-General of Korea before his assassination, opposed annexation due to concerns about the economic burden of governing the Korean Peninsula.

 The lack of modern statistics on Korea before Japan's annexation of Korea (1910) makes accurate analysis difficult. However, Korean society in the 18th and 19th centuries was characterized by a stagnant society with 80-90% agricultural population, a low rate of capital accumulation, a lack of significant industry, a declining population, and hunger and poverty.

 Japan's pre-modern rule over the Korean Peninsula was not based on exploitation, as was the case with Western imperialist countries, but rather on the aim of incorporating the peninsula by establishing systems and social infrastructure similar to those of mainland Japan.

 Simply put, it was rapid modernization led by the Government-General of Korea.

＜＜ Abolition and prohibition of feudal systems and customs ＞＞

　　- Abolition of the class system and the associated privileges and discrimination (the abolition order before annexation was not implemented)

　　　・Emancipation of slaves (30% of the population)

　　　・Prohibition of human trafficking

　　　・Abolition of yangban privileges

　　　・Women's liberation (encouraging names, allowing remarriage, banning female gisaeng)

　　- Prohibition of traditional customs and elimination of pre-modern regulations

　　　・Prohibition of magical medicine, eunuchs, and foot binding

　　　・Liberalization of occupational choice, residence, travel, clothing, and architecture

＜＜Introduction of a modern economic legal system＞＞

　　- Guarantee of private property (establishment of an ownership system)

　　- Land surveying and cadastral determination (confiscation of 3% of land with unknown owners)

　　- Establishment of a modern corporate system and commercial code

　　- Establishment of a monetary system

　　- Unification of weights and measures

＜＜Introduction of a modern social system＞＞

　　- Thorough implementation of the principle of criminal legality (prohibition of lynching, abolition of cruel punishments)

　　- Reorganization of administrative units into The establishment of a family (surname) system, replacing the clan (the purpose of creating a surname)

　　- Limiting the power of the head of the household

　　- Election of local administrative leaders and assembly members

＜＜Modernization and Spread of Education and Medical Care＞＞

　　- Establishment and spread of a modern school system (construction of over 5,000 elementary schools and over 1,000 universities and other institutions)

　　- Systematization of the Korean language, establishment of a standard language, and spread of Hangeul

　　- Spread of Western medicine and hygiene ideas, prevention of epidemics and isolation of infected patients, development of medical facilities

＜＜Development of Social Infrastructure＞＞

　　- Construction of roads, bridges, and railways (4,000 km), port construction, and power generation

　　

　　- Expansion of arable land and modernization of agriculture through flood control projects, promotion of rural revitalization

　　- Large-scale reforestation (600 million trees)

These policies achieved the following results: GDP growth averaged 4% in the 1920s and 1930s (the global economy grew at less than 2% in the 1920s, while Japan's was just over 3%).

　　- Per capita national income doubled from $40 in 1910.

　　- Large-scale inflows of Japanese capital (a total of $8 billion during the period of rule) led to the development of communications, transportation, and urban areas.

　　- Cultivated land expanded (from 2.46 million cho to 4.49 million cho).

　　- Rice yield per tan tripled from 0.5 koku to 1.5 koku.

　　- Agricultural and industrial product imports and exports increased eightfold (including to the mainland).

　　- Population increased from 13 million to 26 million.

　　- Average life expectancy increased from 24 to 56 years.

　　- Literacy rate exceeded 61% (estimated at around 4% in 1944 at the time of annexation).

 In addition, Western colonial powers forced the independent countries to purchase assets they left behind in their detached colonies. 

 In the Japan-Korea Treaty, Japan renounced its assets on the peninsula (worth 60 trillion yen) and provided an additional $800 million in economic aid. (The national budget of South Korea at the time was $350 million.)

Reference: Dai Nihonshi Extra Edition: Korea Volume, "The Annexation of Korea from the Japanese Perspective" 

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