메이지(明治)시대 한국에서 발행된 일본어 신문의 역할에 관한 연구 -조선신보(朝鮮新報)를 중심으로-

Abstract

This study examined the publication and role of Japanese newspapers in Korea and other Japanese settlements abroad during the Meiji Era. After the late 19th Century, overseas immigration of Japanese increased sharply. One of the noticeable trends of the Japanese immigrant communities was the publication of Japanese newspapers at the overseas settlements. Most of these newspapers were published in port cities. According to a research, over 95% of Japanese newspapers out of 156 kinds of Japanese newspapers published abroad (excluding Korea and China) during the Meiji Era were published in port cities. Also, 32 out of 67 Japanese newspapers published in Korea during the Meiji Era were published in port cities. These Japanese newspapers had three roles: first, a source of information for the Japanese immigrants in Korea; second, a leader of public opinion; and third, a form of entertainment. In other words, the Japanese newspapers published in Korea during the Meiji Era served as a system of information communication between the homeland (Japan) and the immigrant communities besides the original role of mass media. Also, they contributed to maintaining the identity of Japanese communities.