재중(在中)한국독립운동세력의 항일연극 공연과 의의

Abstract

Anti-Japanese drama means drama performances with the purposes of collecting human/material resources necessary for resisting the Japanese force, providing mental comfort, and raising anti-Japanese volition. After the outbreak of the Sino-Japanese War, the so-called “resistance drama movement (anti-Japanese activities through dramas during the period of Sino-Japanese War)” was promoted around dramas in the Guannei region (south of the Great Wall) of China. The energy of resistance art movement in China seems to have given certain influence to the Korean independence movement groups as well. After the outbreak of the Sino-Japanese War, Koreans also decided to reinforce their propaganda activities as part of a new war-time policy. Most of such activities were lectures and speeches, but following the development of anti-Japanese arts, music concerts and dramas also opened frequently to emphasize the importance of Korean-Chinese alliance. Among the major groups active in the Guannei region of China back then, the Korea Liberation Front Youths Mission Corps staged Anti-Japanese dramas in Liuzhou, while the Choseon Uiyongdae (Choseon Volunteer Army) in Guilin, the Korean Youths Battlefield Mission Corps in Xian, and the Provisional Republic of Korean Government in Shanghai and Xian. Independently or under the alliance and cooperation with Chinese resistance art groups, they used anti-Japanese dramas and operas to raise funds for independent movements, open events for anniversaries, conduct propaganda activities, and support the resistance of Chinese forces.