일본 제국주의의 조선침탈과 식민정책 이데올로기의 역사왜곡

Abstract

This article aims to analyze how Japanese imperialism distorted history based on Seikanron to justify and rationalize the invasion of Korea that began in 1876, the annexation of Korea in 1910, and the subsequent implementation of colonial rule to legitimize and rationalize the logic of ethnic assimilation policies towards the Korean people after the annexation. Seikanron, which began with the 1876 Ganghwa Treaty, has its roots in the theories of "Chosun Myeolsirun" (disparaging Chosun) and "Chosun Sotgukrun" (Chosun as a tributary state). The historical origins of these theories can be traced back to the Conquest of Samhan in the "Nihon Shoki." They aimed to substantiate the historical factuality of the Conquest of Samhan by Empress Jingū, asserting that Goguryeo, Silla, and Baekje were all vassals of Japan, that Japan was equivalent to China, and that Japanese culture was superior to that of China and Korea. Furthermore, after the occupation of Korea in 1910, Japan justified the annexation through "Oriental Peace" and "Relief for the People" theories. They rekindled the myth from the "Nihon Shoki" to create the "Japanese-Korean Common Ancestry Assimilation Ideology." As Japan's continental aggression intensified, they thoroughly educated the "Imperial Historical View" down to every corner of Korean society, making it reach “Japan and Korea as One Body” (Naesun Ilche) and "Universal Benevolence" (Ilsidongin) policies. Starting from 1940, they even enforced "Sōshi Kaimei", changing Korean names to Japanese names. In conclusion, the concept of Sōshi Kaimei was nothing but a policy to completely assimilate Koreans into Japanese identity, eradicating the Korean nationality from the face of the Earth. Ultimately, the historical revisionism of the Japanese far-right, which is currently a matter of concern, is just another act of historical distortion occurring in this context.