일제의 한국 강점 논리와 그 선전

Abstract

Western imperialist countries rationalized their struggle for colonization and colonial rule as a way to civilize the colonies, that is, they rationalized what they did for their own countries was for civilization of the natives. Indigenous society and culture were designated one-sidedly as barbarism and the aggression and rule of the civilized countries was justified by the public law of all nations. Japan which accepted Western modern civilization to the utmost and rapidly achieved national prosperity and military power after Meiji Revitalizing Reform gradually put herself on the ranks of the civilized countries and uttered that Joseon was an uncivilized country, and started to show her ambition to invade Joseon. Japan’s invasion led by civilization and a way to civilization showed itself on a full-scale particularly after the Russo-Japanese War. Ito Hirobumi who came to Joseon as the first Resident-General after 1905 said that his appointment was to civilize Joseon and carried out, what is called, the projects for civic betterment. At that time Josoen could not overcome ineffectiveness around the end of the Joseon Dynasty and political corruption in spite of its incessant reform drive. In such a situation the projects to improve administrative efficiency was a good thing to win the hearts of the people. Japanese imperialism propagated the administration of the Residency-General in Joseon by all means including the paper, informal announcement, campaign speeches, and others as the project for civilization. This propaganda would contribute to drawing Western recognition of Japanese control of Joseon and weakening of anti-Japanese struggle of Koreans. Particularly it would draw the tacit consent from the "Enlightenment" group which targeted civilization and enlightenment. But as the essence of civic betterment was to help the advancement of the power of Japan into Joseon and was against Korean interests, its effectiveness was limited.