Korean Independence Came After Years of Resistance

by Alarice McPark, age 13

The Korean Independence is one of many accomplishments of World War II. Similar to European countries who were invaded by Nazi Germany, Japan dehumanized Korea. It was Japan’s colony even before World War II, however Korea faced much more suffering during those circumstances. Eventually, it gained independence, yet new conflicts surfaced. The Japanese colonization of Korea and its independence showed how other parts of the world were affected by World War II. Both events also show how victims retaliated in those situations.

Before Japan, Korea used to be China’s subordinate, but after the Sino-Japanese War and the Russo-Japanese war, Japan gained influence over Korea. Another catalyst of the colonization was the negotiation between William Taft and Count Taro Katsura made in 1905. The barter involved the U.S. receiving the Philippines and Japan receiving Korea.

On March 1st, 1919, there was a peaceful protest called the “First March Movement.” Unfortunately, the Japanese responded brutally to the opposition: 47,000 people were arrested, 7,500 were killed, and 16,000 were wounded. Yu Gwan Sun, a sixteen year old girl, was one of the most famous protesters in the movement. She died on Sept. 20th, 1920, from the torture and beatings like many other native citizens who were imprisoned by the Japanese military police. People who were suspected to be sympathetic to the movement were also arrested and imprisoned.

In 1917, Woodrow Wilson gave the Fourteen Points address and formed the League of Nations. The idealisms in the speech appealed to the colonized people who wanted to appoint Korea as an independent nation. The Japanese government, who was opposed to losing their territory, prohibited Korean citizens from entering the meeting.

During Japan’s rule, Korea was denied freedom of assembly, association, press, religion, and speech. People were forced to learn Japanese and change their names to ones approved by the new government. Japan took almost 85% of all property in Korea; farmland and forests were mostly taken.

Throughout World War II, Japan drafted Korean men to the battlefield. Along with harsh living conditions and army life, the drafted soldiers were physically and mentally abused. After the start of the Pacific War, women and girls were coaxed or kidnapped for their own heinous fate of exploitation.

Students and young adults—unlike the older generation—created small, dispersed secret societies to fend off Japan’s imperials. Some discreet publications made books out of Hangul to keep the language and the heritage alive. Those books inspired students to stay true to their ethnicity. Presses, like the Dong-A Ilbo and Chosun Ilbo, reminded people of patriotism for Korea. When Shanghai fell to the Japanese, the Korean Restoration Army fought alongside Allied Forces until Japan’s surrender.

After the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan surrendered. The event made Korea independent in unofficial terms. After World War II, Korea was split due to the U.S. and the Soviets. The northern side was the territory of the Soviets, and the southern side was the territory of the U.S..

Despite the new independence in Korea, turmoil spread after Japan’s defeat and political parties began to form varying political ideologies. All of those parties were different but had the same objective: self-government. During the divide, many middle-class people fled to the south.

In the north, Korean communists joined the Soviets and made Kim Il-Sung the leader of the people. He made the decision to invade South Korea in 1950. This led to a new conflict, the Korean War.

The history of the Korean Independence reminds people how other parts of the world were affected by World War II. Korea suffered before and during the war. Despite many struggles of discrimination and abuse, it rebuilt itself as a remarkable country as it continues to heal today.

[Sources: Korean Ministry of Culture; US Army]