It was in 1945 when Korea gained its independence from Japan after Japan’s ruler surrendered to the United States. This was the end of the harsh treatment of the Korean people under Japanese occupation. This historical period was equally as brutal and inhumane as the treatment of the Jews by Nazi Germany. Korea was stripped of all its rights and the Korean people were forced under Japanese reign from August 22, 1910, to August 15, 1945. During this thirty-five year rule, Japan’s occupation in Korea put a huge impact on the country. In some instances, many of Japan’s influences on Korea was beneficial, yet much of it was also a motive to strip Korea of its unique culture and transform it into a Japanese state.

After being in a desperate economic situation, Japan’s main intent of occupying Korea was to exploit its natural resource such as rice, metal, and coal. Its central economy was on the brink of bankruptcy due to expenditures for fighting the Russo-Japanese War of 1904. However, in 1910, according to the Japanese Ministry of Education, Japan’s true objective was to “enlighten” and “civilize” all the people of East Asia as well as spread p

A multiple of significant transformations occurred in Korea within the total period of occupation. Most of these changes were enforced, however, some a few Koreans volunteered as well. Either way, these changes ended the basis of Korea’s education and culture, which was feudalism. Also, the economic and social systems were altered, and communication and transportation systems were changed in a more modern fashion. New industries and capitalism grew and developed as well.

Despite all this, the Japanese still saw Korea as a flourishing land; however, the Koreans felt that the Japanese rule was a representation of tyranny and mistreatment. Japanese capitalists ruthlessly exploited not only the people of Korea, but also their land and natural resources. The booming economy of Korea was strictly for Japans imperialistic goals, it was absolutely not at all for the Korean people.

Then in 1939, a law was passed that all Koreans must discontinue the use of their traditional Korean names, and were forced to take on Japanese names. To the Koreans, this new law was a heartbreaking tragedy. The entire basis of the Korean culture and its power was built on the family and clan system. The clan system was especially important to the Korean elites. They were extremely proud of their clan, because some of the clans are recorded as far back in history as the Silla Dynasty, which was over fifteen hundred years ago. However, the Japanese had no sympathy for this. In fact, they were determined to eliminate this historical system by making the Koreans change their names. Those Koreans who were too proud to follow this new law were singled out anywhere that was ruled by Japanese power.

Along with the influential change in the Korea educational system, the Japanese also targeted Korean religion. Although they never interfered in the American-founded Christian schools, which is why Christianity survived in Korea, the Japanese were determined to expand their own religion in Korea, called Shinto. In 1937, the Japanese started to force Koreans to worship the Shinto ghosts at all schools. It was obligatory for all students and faculty to go to and worship Shinto temples at least once a month.

“militaristic” power that led them into a horrific path towards slavery. Not only did these people lose their continuous independence that they had enjoyed for over five thousand years, but they also lost their lands and rights, and their whole lives were put into the hands of the Japanese and their system.

Another huge Japanese influence in Korea was their railroad developments, industries, commerce, etc. The Japanese and some Westerners who acknowledge Japanese opinion frequently mention Japanese railroad building as a Japanese advantage to Korea. However, it is never cites that the railroads were mainly used for the transportation of Japanese armed forces and industrial products. These people who agreed with the fact that the Japanese were a benefit to Korea, were trying to make a point that the Koreans were not competent enough to build railroads, therefore, the Japanese did it for them. However, this is one of the biggest misleading notions in history. Building railroads was actually considered rather easy. The only reason the Koreans did not build the railroads was because the Japanese did not give them t

Some topics in this essay:
Silla Dynasty, Imperial Rescript, Asia August, Koreans Japanese, Japanese Westerners, Manchuria Jiro, Germany Korea, Land Survey, Ohakhoe Korean, Majority Koreans, korean language, korean people, japanese rule, japanese korea, koreans japanese, forced japanese, resources japanese, japanese occupation, korean culture, bureau land survey, education culture, build railroads japanese,