Colonial Modernity in Korea

Harvard East Asian Monographs #184

by Daqing Yang, Henry H. Em, Do-Hyun Han

The twelve chapters in this volume seek to overcome the nationalist paradigm of Japanese repression and exploitation versus Korean resistance that has dominated the study of Korea's colonial period (1910-1945) by adopting a more inclusive, pluralistic approach that stresses the complex relations among colonialism, modernity, and nationalism. By addressing such diverse subjects as the colonial legal system, radio, telecommunications, the rural economy, and industrialization and the formation of industrial labor, one group of essays analyzes how various aspects of modernity emerged in the colonial context and how they were mobilized by the Japanese for colonial domination, with often unexpected results. A second group examines the development of various forms of identity from nation to gender to class, particularly how aspects of colonial modernity facilitated their formation through negotiation, contestation, and redefinition.

Genres: History, Japan, Nonfiction, Grad School, Japanese History

466 pages, Paperback

First published January 15, 2000

About the author

Daqing Yang is Associate Professor of History and International Affairs at George Washington University.

Reviews

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, this collection of essays has some very interesting reads. To put it briefly, no matter what specific area of history you're interested in, you'll be able to find something you'll be interested in. My personal favorite was Henry Em's 'Minjok as a Modern and Democratic Construct: Sin Ch'aeho's Historiography,' which analyzed Sin Ch'aeho's work of history and his transition away from an emphasis on the 'minjok' nationalist historiography towards an emphasis on the 'minjung' and a growth in anarchist ideals. Other essays I found very enjoyable include 'Broadcasting, Cultural Hegemony, and Colonial Modernity in Korea, 1924-1945,' by Michael Robinson, 'Colonial Corporatism: The Rural Revitalization Campaign, 1932-1940,' by Gi-Wook Shin and Do-Hyun Han, 'The Limits of Cultural Rule: Internationalism and Identity in Japanese Responses to Korean Rice,' by Michael A. Schneider, 'Colonia Korea in Japan's Imperial Telecommunications Network,' by Daquing Yang, 'Interior Landscapes: Yi Kwangsu's 'The Heartless' and the Origins of Modern Literature,' by Michael D. Shin, and 'In Search of Human Rights: The 'Paekcheong' Movement in Colonial Korea,' by Joong-Seop Kim.

All these essays cover different themes, but they are all linked by the overarching thesis in the collection. This would be that nationalist Korean historiography has largely failed and historians need to explore more pluralistic research methodologies. Unfortunately, the main reason I only awarded this collection is, as it was published almost 15 years ago, and as is a strong tendency within poststructuralist scholarship, there is an emphasis on deconstructing the current standard without much offered in terms of offering alternative methodologies. In fact, many of the essays address the issue by repeating that their main purpose is to demonstrate the complexity of such issues and the need for future scholarship ad nauseum. I will concede that the epilogue by Carter J. Eckert does in fact offer an alternative model for future historians to use, which I feel has signaled a post-nationalist tonal shift in more recent works on Japanese colonization of Korea. However, this is a burgeoning field which has been dominated by nationalist histories, so we are only witnessing the beginning of this shift.

Some other minor annoyances included the mis-romanization of certain Japanese words, which makes me question some of the authors' abilities to incorporate Japanese sources. This issue certainly manifested itself in Kyeong-Hee Choi's essay on the "New Women" and Pak Wanseo's literature, which barely touches upon the "Mōdan gāru" phenomenon, which has been very well researched within the field of Japanese history. This is one example of a few obvious lacunae. But, as is made clear, much more research is needed and I've seen significant leaps. I cringed slightly when I saw the term 'cheongsindae,' female factory workers recruited by the Japanese, used interchangeably with "Comfort Women," which C. Sarah Soh has more recently problematized. However, the fact that Soh has problematized this by now effectively demonstrates that new research is taking place, marking this book as a turning point in Korean historiography.

In all, despite some minor setbacks and my own personal desire for more, pluralistic research that the authors continuously mention, this book effectively demonstrates some little known complexities in the Grand Narrative of the Japanese colonization of Korea and does a fantastic job of deconstructing ideological rhetoric that has dominated Korean History.

[Jessie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice collection of essays, with a thought-provoking introduction that outlines the notion of "colonial modernity" by drawing on Foucault and Gramsci. I would have liked to see them bring Taiwan into comparison, though. The omission of Japanese authors/works on Korea is also curious as well as ironic in that it kind of contradicts its claim to overcome a Korean nationalistic bias. But it is still a stimulating read.

[lys · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of interesting case studies that succeed in the authors' goal of critiquing nationalist historiography. The second half of the collection, which focuses on new and reinvented social categories, is particularly strong. I enjoyed reading Sorensen's chapter on the creation of the category "peasant" (nongmin) in colonial Korea.