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The anti-imperialism of Korean-Japanese solidarity of Yonetaro Joko, a Japanese settlers in colonial Joseon

  • Journal of Japanese Culture
  • 2020, (84), pp.39-62
  • DOI : 10.21481/jbunka..84.202002.39
  • Publisher : The Japanese Culture Association Of Korea (Jcak)
  • Research Area : Humanities > Japanese Language and Literature
  • Received : November 29, 2019
  • Accepted : January 30, 2020
  • Published : February 29, 2020

Chang-Gun Park 1

1국민대학교

Accredited

ABSTRACT

This paper aims to reevaluate the theory of Korean-Japanese solidarity, suggesting a how Japanese and Koreans might have coexisted in the education and labor movements and anti-imperialist struggle of Yonetaro Joko, a Japanese settlers in colonial Joseon. Joko’s life, which was very different from the average Japanese in colonial Joseon, contains lessons applicable to the strained relations between Korea and Japan. Of note is the fact that Joko chose to coexist with Koreans rather take advantage of his power as a Japanese teacher, a low official whose purpose was maintain the colonial system and Japanese colonial rule. Why did Joko transition from a propagandist of Japanese civilization to a supporter of Joseon’s independence? This study, which began with this question, could be an opportunity to relativize such binary thinking as so-called “dominance and subordination” or “repression and anti-repression” in colonial Joseon. In addition, the work of revealing the existence and meaning of Japanese settlers who resisted Korean–Japanese solidarity and the anti-imperialist struggle in colonial Korea will help us to grasp the complete picture of the relationship between Koreans and Japanese at that time.

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