조선인 원폭피해자 규모 추정의 변천과 새로운 추정 – 일본의 원폭피해 관련 자료를 중심으로 –

Abstract

On August 6, 1945, the United States dropped an inhumane weapon, on Hiroshima, Japan, for the first time in human history. In May 2023, the G7 summit was held in Hiroshima. Then-Prime Minister Kishida stated that “the primary purpose of holding this event is to inform about the reality of the atomic bombing.” However, in response to a question from a Japanese member of the House of Councillors urging an investigation into the realities of Korean atomic bomb victims, he replied that he had no intention of doing so. While Japan provides estimates for the number of its atomic bomb victims in single digits, the number of victims among Koreans, who suffered the second-highest casualties, is still mentioned as a vague estimate in the ten thousands (70,000 or 100,000 victims). In this context, this paper could present three alternative estimates of the number of Korean atomic bomb victims by cross-referencing existing data, particularly sources published in Japan. In summary, it can be confirmed that the number of victims may be as high as “101,981 people exposed to the bomb, of which 57,247 died from exposure,” and at the very least, “86,893 people were exposed, of which 48,777 died.” However, we must remember that even these figures may be minimal estimates. Moreover, it is crucial for the nations involved to actively work to secure valuable evidence of the historical disasters, including the Japanese colonial period, the war, and the atomic bombing, before such evidence is concealed or intentionally destroyed.