1919~1926년 朝鮮土地改良株式會社 설립 논의와 성격

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the discussions leading up to the establishment of the Joseon Land Improvement Corporation, which was founded in August 1926. Through this examination, the study aims to uncover the underlying motives behind the Japanese imperialist agenda for establishing the Joseon Land Improvement Corporation. Additionally, it reveals that the establishment was not a direct initiative solely driven by the Joseon Governor-General or the Japanese government. Instead, the formation involved multiple years of efforts by various interested parties, including Japanese politicians, the Joseon Governor-General’s office, and the Joseon elite. On the other hand, there were cases where private entities independently established their own land improvement companies and proactively embarked on land improvement projects. Notably, the Hwanghaesa and Daedongsa companies were examined, and both presidents of these companies participated as promoters when the Joseon Land Improvement Corporation was established. These private sector experiences led Japanese entrepreneurs and the Joseon elite to realize that substantial technical skills and significant capital were essential for land improvement projects, necessitating government support. Consequently, they actively urged the Joseon Governor-General’s office to provide such support. The Japanese government, which had previously ignored these internal demands from Joseon for several years, changed its stance following a mid-term review of The Plan To Increase Rice Production in 1925, paving the way for the establishment of the Joseon Land Improvement Corporation. In the establishment petition and the statement of purpose, it was emphasized that 80% of Joseon’s population was engaged in agriculture, and thus, agricultural stability was crucial for the overall stability of Joseon society. To achieve this, it was proposed to focus on land improvement, necessitating the establishment of an organization to support such efforts, which would be the Joseon Land Improvement Corporation. It was even argued that this enterprise was essential for the “unification of Japan and Korea.” However, it should be noted that the Joseon elite did not represent the entirety of the Joseon population, and even within this elite group, none became executives of the Joseon Land Improvement Corporation, despite being promoters. Furthermore, a Joseon writer in a contemporary magazine criticized the establishment of the Joseon Land Improvement Corporation as the birth of yet another exploitation mechanism.