Daily life in Japanese occupation of Korea
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Japanese Occupation Korean History Daily Life Colonial Korea Historical Podcast 20th Century Asia

Eps 144: Daily life in Japanese occupation of Korea

— History

During the Japanese occupation of Korea, daily life for Koreans was marked by a significant loss of cultural identity and autonomy. The Japanese implemented policies aimed at assimilating Koreans into Japanese culture, including the suppression of the Korean language, changes to Korean names to Japanese names, and the introduction of Japanese education and media. Economic exploitation was rampant, with Koreans forced into labor for Japanese industries and resources being redirected to support Japan's imperial ambitions. Social hierarchies were altered, with Japanese settlers often enjoying higher status and privileges. The period also saw resistance and efforts to preserve Korean heritage, though these were often met with harsh reprisals. Overall, the occupation created a climate of fear, repression, and cultural erosion for the Korean people.

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Elaine Jenkins

Elaine Jenkins

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Daily life in Korea during the Japanese occupation from 1910 to 1945 was a period marked by profound hardship and transformation. Under Japanese rule, Koreans faced significant cultural, political, and economic changes aimed at assimilating them into the Japanese Empire. The Japanese government enforced policies that stripped away Korean identity, including the ban of the Korean language in schools and public places, compelling Koreans to adopt Japanese names, and dismantling traditional customs. Daily life for Koreans was a struggle against these oppressive measures. In urban areas, Japanese settlers often occupied prominent positions in society and industry, relegating Koreans to subordinate roles. Economically, many Koreans were dispossessed of their land and marginalized in favor of Japanese agricultural and industrial interests, leading to widespread poverty and exploitation.

Rural life was equally harsh, as Korean farmers were subjected to oppressive tax burdens and land confiscations. The introduction of Japanese industrial farming techniques prioritized quantity over the livelihood of local farmers, making it difficult for them to sustain their traditional ways of life. Culturally, Koreans clung to their native customs in secret, using folk music, dance, and literature as a means of covert resistance and cultural preservation. Education under Japanese rule was heavily Japan-centric, with students indoctrinated to pledge allegiance to the Japanese Emperor and taught Japanese history and language at the expense of their own.

The Japanese occupation also brought about forced labor and conscription. Many Koreans were sent to work in perilous conditions in mines and factories, both in Korea and Japan, under brutal supervision. Additionally, large numbers of Korean women were coercively recruited as "comfort women," forced into sexual slavery for the Japanese military. In urban centers, life was characterized by strict surveillance and control, with Japanese police enforcing stringent laws designed to quell any form of dissent or resistance. Despite such oppressive conditions, Koreans found subtle ways to resist, from forming underground independence movements to secret literary clubs where forbidden works of Korean literature and poetry were shared.

Religious practices were similarly undermined as Shinto, the Japanese state religion, was imposed, and Korean Buddhist and Christian practices were heavily restricted or co-opted to align with Japanese ideologies. Social gatherings, a vital part of Korean culture, were monitored for signs of anti-Japanese sentiment, with community leaders often targeted for arrest and harsh treatment. In this climate of fear and repression, daily acts of resistance, such as secretly teaching the Korean language or holding clandestine meetings, became acts of courage and defiance.

The legacy of this occupation left a lasting impact on Korean society, instilling a deep sense of resilience and a drive for independence that would ultimately lead to Korea's liberation in 1945. However, the scars of the occupation, including the economic disruption and cultural dislocation, persisted long after, influencing Korea's post-war recovery and shaping the collective Korean memory for generations.