Korean Modern HistoryAustin MesserBrandon MerrillFred Saulog

Japanese Colonial Rule in Korea (1910-1945)

• Japan ruled directly from the military for the first ten years

• In 1919, Korea demonstrated a nationwide protest against Japanese colonialism that earned Koreans the freedoms of expressions.

Korean Social Growth During the 35 year

Period of Japanese Colonial Rule

• Rapid Urban Growth• Expansion of Commerce• Mass Culture, ie: radio and cinema• Industrial Development-by 1945 Korea was the 2nd

most industrialized nation in Asia

Korean Work “Force”• Japanese wartime mobilization during 1937-1945

forced many Koreans into work in factories or sent as soldiers on the front.

• Tens of thousands of young Korean women were forced to become “Comfort Women” for Japanese soldiers.

The 1939 Name Change• Koreans were forced to change their names to

Japanese• 80 percent of Koreans followed these orders

Liberation, Division, War• WWII ends in 1945• The United States and the Soviet Union could not

agree on a unified Korean government • In 1948, Korea was split into two separate

governments.• The Republic of Korea-South-American Zone• Democratic People’s Republic of Korea-North-

Soviet Zone

The North invades the South• June 25, 1950, North Korean forces invade the

South.• American send help to aid South Korea• China sends forces to help North Korea

The End of the Korean War• The Korean War ends in 1953 with much

bloodshed • Casualties:• 3 million Koreans• 1 million Chinese• 54 thousand Americans

De-Militarized Zone (DMZ)