Truth Uncovered: THE NEW KOREA - When Korea Became Dramatically Prosperous

"THE NEW KOREA: 朝鮮が劇的に豊かになった時代 (When Korea Became Dramatically Prosperous)" has been recently published in Japan by Sakuranohana Publications Inc.

The New Korea by Alleyne Ireland  [700 pages in English and Japanese]

The book was originally written by British Scholar Alleyne Ireland in 1926 to examine, with the vast amount of data, the Japanese administration in Korea (Chosen) in the early 20th century (note: Korea became the protectorate of Japan after the Japanese-Russo war in 1905, then it was annexed by Japan in 1910 till 1945). 

Alleyne was a leading authority on colonial administration and was appointed the head commissioner by the University of Chicago to study colonial administration in the Far East, and spent three years in the region studying the British, French, Dutch and Japanese systems. The book covers ranges of issues from the reform of the central and local governments, justice and police system, to development of economy, education, health and sanitation. (I found parts of English text introduced in the Korean blog).

The newly published book include the original English text and the Japanese translation, as well as supplementary chapters on the history of Korea and many photos of then Korea before and after the annexation, and appendixes. 

We often hear from Koreans that "Japan invaded and destroyed us, and committed so much atrocities", but reading the book, you immediately see that that is not true. In fact, the very opposite.

In the preface, Alleyne says the cause of centuries of Korean suffering was due to the Korean dynasty:

"It is true that at the time Japan annexed Korea in 1910, the actual conditions of life in the Peninsula were extremely bad. This was not due, however, to any lack of inherent intelligence and ability in the Korean race, but to the stupidity and corruption which for five hundred years had, almost continuously, characterized the government of the Korean dynasty, and to the existence during that period of a royal court which maintained throughout Korea a system of licensed cruelty and corruption."

"Such was the misrule under which the Koreans had suffered for generation after generation that all incentive to industry, thrift, and social progress had been destroyed, because none of the common people had been allowed to enjoy the fruits of their own efforts." 

Left - Front view of Seoul Namdaemun, 1892. Even Namdaemun, the symbol of the capital,
had an aura of dilapidation; Right - Japanese administration completely changed the Namdaemun area by constructing roads, running trams, and building many tall buildings.

In the chapter on economic development, Alleyne praises the revolutionary progress that Japan brought to Korea:

"The Japanese administration in Korea has done more to advance the interests of Korea than any other government has done to advance the interests of any country in the world... That Korean agricultural exports should have increased in little more than a decade by more than a thousand per cent; industrial exports by more than three thousand per cent, fishery exports by nearly three thousand per cent...would, if Korea were a self-governing country instead of a Japanese colonial dependency, be hailed throughout the Western world as an astounding example of national progress."

Alleyne recognizes many of the then Japanese administrators in Korea as kind and sincerely wanting to bring about development for the good of Korean people:

"... the credit is due chiefly to the humane and conciliatory attitude of Governor-General Saito toward the Korean people, and to the wise measures which, for more than six years, have been the fruit of an unstinting employment of his unusual energy and of his still more unusual administrative talents."

"... Vice-Governor-General Ariyoshi, one of Japan's most expert and highly regarded civil administrators, a man whom, from my own observation, I know to be a tireless worker and sympathetic toward the Korean people."

Furthermore, Alleyne calls the Resident-General Ito Hirobumi "a sincere friend and well-wisher of Korea".  The Resident-General Ito was assassinated by a Korean nationalist An Jung-geun (安重根) in 1909, who is today praised by Koreans as a national hero (you might have seen his face on the enlarged banner held up by Koreans at a soccer game - texas daddy explains.)

Prince Ito Hirobumi, the First Resident-General of Korea and the first Prime Minister of Japan (center), wearing the traditional Korean attire Hanbok, and his wife (front row, second left). Hoping for Korea's independence, Prince Ito respected Korean culture and tried to blend in with the Korean society. He was assassinated by a Korean nationalist.

Then Alleyne says that Korean sentiment was getting less anti-Japanese, recognizing the prosperity that Japan brought to Koreans:

"Discussing Korean affairs with a good many people - Korean, Japanese, and foreign, official and non-official - I found almost unanimous agreement on two points: one, that native sentiment had, in recent years, shown a continuing tendency to become less anti-Japanese; the other, that the remarkable increase in the country's prosperity had been accompanied by a striking improvement in the living conditions of the Korean people at large."

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It is highly unfortunate that none of these is taught in Korea today. Instead, Korea has turned into the most anti-Japan country in the world, firmly believing that they are the victims of cruelty and misrule by the Japanese government, due to decades of the country's anti-Japan education policy. However, this is not so.

In the concluding remarks, the Sakuranohana Publications Inc. states as follows:

"...Koreans and Japanese are neighbors. It is necessary to get along with each other. To do so, the Koreans must first gain the courage and confidence to directly confront their own history. The information that Alleyne Ireland wrote down in his book is historical truth. An Englishman, and an expert of public administration, no less, has analyzed and recorded that Korea modernized due to Japan and that the Korean people became much more well-off due to the annexation. It is time for Koreans to calm down and stop their unwarranted accusations. As Korea has become a praiseworthy nation, its people should begin to tolerate Japan, no matter how much unacceptable the country at first seem."

"Such is how a mature country would act. At least, that the 'unacceptable' Japan brought the once destitute Korea out of poverty and improved it to the great country it is today is a historical fact acknowledged by historians and experts of public administration the world over. By realizing the reality of the history of Korea and Japan, both parties can acknowledge, respect, and develop together, hand in hand. It is time people of both countries choose the path of cooperation."

"To the people in Korea, we hope that you will be willing to lend an ear to the historical records and analyses of an Englishman with a perspective of an unbiased outsider. The Japanese must understand history as well, and instead of irresponsibly showing pity and apologizing with a facade of righteousness, must learn and reveal the truth of their country's past."