일제하 조선 상업회의소의 철도부설운동(1910~1923)

Abstract

Immediately after Chosun's annexation into Japan, Japanese capitalists began to request the construction of railroads in the colony. Accepting the request, the Japanese government-general in Chosun laid state-owned railroads and, through researching existing light railways and taking auxiliary policies, constructed the Gyeongbu Railroad Line. This explosively increased the total railroad length of Chosun to 1,000 miles. The industrial development of Chosun, including railroad construction, had been stagnated for some period because of the financial independence scheme of the Japanese government-general in Chosun. But it began to be driven in earnest as Japanese capitalists who benefited from economic booming brought by the 1st Word War rushed to Chosun. Under this circumstance, Chosun Chamber of Commerce was restructured with a majority of its members consisting of Japanese businessmen in accordance with 「the Ordinances of the Chosun Chamber of Commerce」. Then it organized Chosun Association of the Chmabers of Commerce which in turn actively made requests for the industrial development of the colony. The regional chambers of commerce and the association insisted that the Pyeongwon Railroad Line and private railroads, which might contribute to regional economy, should be constructed and that government subsidies should be given to the construction. This greatly influenced the construction of the Pyeongwon Railroad Line and the establishment and licensing of private railroad companies. But then, Japan fell to the state of economic panic. In the aftermath of the situation, the industrial development of Chosun was delayed again. After facing the resistance of the people of Chosun, especially, the 3ㆍ1 Independence Movement, the Japanese government-general in Chosun invested more budgets to set stronger fundamentals for the sustainable ruling of the colony. The association discussed a possible measure against the delay or suspension of Chosun's industrial development brought by the post-war economic panic of Japan and the 3ㆍ1 Independence Movement, and insisted the rapid construction of railroad networks around Chosun. In addition, it requested the Janapese colonial government to take a policy to fundamental solve problems related to the colonial industrial development. This led to the establishment of the Industrial Research Committee. The meeting of the committee formed a consensus that railroad networks should be built up throughout Chosun as earliest as possible, and the Japanese government-general in Chosun started a preliminary survey for the network construction. But in fact, the Japanese colonial government devoted itself more to the stable ruling and public order maintenance of Chosun and implementing its plan for increasing rice production for the mainland Japan. This made more stagnated Chosun's industrial development, requested by the association, rather than promoting it. The association couldn't wait for the Japanese colonial government's railroad construction plan any longer, so it made another railroad construction plan of its own. Seeking towards the industrial development of Chosun, the association consulted with the Japanese government-general in Chosun and Chosun Association of Private Railroads and finally established ‘the 10 Years’ Plan of Railroad Construction(鐵道敷設 10改年計劃)' as the first of ‘the 4 main principles(4大要項)’ of the colonial industrial development. According to the plan, two south-north railroads, the GyeongbuㆍGyeongeui(double track) and the East Sea Railroad Lines and two east-south railroads, the Pyeongwon and the Gyeongreung Railroad Lines were scheduled to be constructed. Despite ‘the Dongsang Movement(東上運動)’ was actively driven, ‘the 10 Years' Plan of Railroad Construction’ by the association failed to be properly implemented because of the Japanese government's budget cuts and Kanto Earthquake Disaster. Since then, however, the association put its focus on a few railroads that was most urgently needed according to ‘the 4 main principles’ as above mentioned. Later, positive, consistent political activities by the association contributed to establishing ‘the 12 Years’ Plan of Railroad Construction(朝鮮鐵道 12年計劃)' and considerably completing railroad networks of Chosun which had been driven by the organization.