Korea and Imperialism in the Early Twentieth Century

Details

Category: One-day Conferences

November 6, 2007

Understanding the history of contemporary East Asia requires broadening the scope of the global studies curricula of American high schools to include Japanese imperialism in addition to the more typical focus on the empire-building of European powers. As Japan's earliest colony, Korea is a case study for a more comprehensive understanding of the impact of imperialism on East Asia in the early 20th century. At the conference, Gari Ledyard, King Sejong Professor Emeritus of Korean Studies at Columbia University, provided a historical overview of Japan's annexation and occupation of Korea from 1910 to 1945, and its effects on Korean politics, culture and society. E. Taylor Atkins, associate professor of history at Northern Illinois University, discussed the unique role of the quintessentially Korean folk song "Arirang" during the period of Japanese occupation. He noted how Koreans came to associate this traditional song, which sings of loss and travail, with self-affirmation amidst Japanese brutality. Japanese songsmiths learned "Arirang" from Koreans and, ignoring the strident anti-Japanese lyrics of some versions, transformed it into a pop song played throughout the empire. After lunch, Hyangsoon Yi, assistant professor of comparative literature at Georgia State University, explained how a new identity paradigm for Korean women emerged during the colonial period--one that prized Western concepts of marriage, education and gender roles--which challenged traditional Confucian identities. Thirty-five tri-state area teachers participated in the conference, which closed with a screening of the Korean film Chong, My Heart.

---