Han Seung Jo, professor emeritus at Korea University, wrote recently that "Japan's colonial rule of Korea was a blessing," and his comments are causing quite an outcry. Each sentence he wrote in a far-right Japanese monthly strikes a stake into the chest of the Korean people.
Han taught political science at a prominent university for around 30 years. He is the permanent head of a civic group that has been promoting conservative political issues. He is an influential public figure who received no less than three medals for his services during military dictatorship. Given who he is what he said cannot be an expression of personal opinion out of the blue. He is defending the claims of the so-called "pro-Japanese elements." It is they, not him, who are "coming out."
The established view in academic circles is that one of the major tragedies of modern Korean history was the failure to deal with collaborators following Liberation. They returned to center stage when Rhee Syngman decided to hire them again, at which point they set out on a campaign of merciless white terror, killing their enemies and innocent people by having them labeled "reds." They were active participants in the military coup by Park Chung Hee, and they built for themselves a fortress of privilege. They have changed their coloring over the years. Under Rhee's government they were "anti-communist fighter. During the Park regime they were the "forces of modernization." Since the start of the government of Kim Dae Jung they have gone on about how they are "fighters for democracy." Han's magazine piece is a naked demonstration the kind of ideology and logic that the anti-Korean and anti-popular actions of the collaborationist elements took place under.
The Korean right is a vulgar and low-grade bunch who are glorifying the aggression of the past as it pursue its cliquish interests while with the help of the Japanese right. They care nothing for the Korean nation and Korean people. The incident is a part of the trouble the country has to face for failing to deal with the collaborationist past. It must not and will not be put to rest with a condemnation of Han. The whole group needs to be dealt with. That is why the country's strength needs to be pooled together to examine and resolve questions of recent Korean history.
The Hankyoreh, 7 March 2005.
[Translations by Seoul Selection (PMS)]
[Editorial] Time to Work on Questions About Recent History |
