The Chosun Governor-General planned and managed development of the construction of Korea, through public works projects, during Japan’s colonial rule of Korea. Japanese contractors monopolized the awarded government contracts by making use of their ...
The Chosun Governor-General planned and managed development of the construction of Korea, through public works projects, during Japan’s colonial rule of Korea. Japanese contractors monopolized the awarded government contracts by making use of their close relationships with the contruction bureau and its officials involved in the Chosun Governor-General's business proceedings. Thus, this study aims to investigate the organization and staff of the contruction bureau, attached to the Chosun Governor-General, and to reveal the excessive arrogance and misbehavior of these Japanese contractors during this period.
This study approaches this topic from a social and institutional background by reviewing key historical records and documents including the Architect and Accounting ; archives of NARS (National Archives & Record Service) recorded between 1926 and 1941.
Since the Gabo Reform(甲午改革) of 1894, the government managed contruction organization, seeking the shift into modernization throughout the country, was divided into Gungnaebu(宮內府), the traditional and architectural artisan organization, and Uejungbu(議政府). However Japan outspokenly intervened to reduce the independence and collapse Gungnaebu(宮內府), and started to make inroads to Uejungbu(議政府) by naming it as 'Lighthouse Bureau Staff for Maritime Customs(海關燈臺局). That meant to start building outspoken construction organizations to be controled for the purposes of Japan's colonial occupation.
The Japanese government had gained experience in colonial occupation through their history with Taiwan(臺灣) and Manchuria(滿洲). They then, with these cases in mind, elaborately planned and organized the architectural organizations that anticipated the colonial occupation of Korea such as: the Architecture Office Bureau in Takjibu(度支部 建築所), the Nautical Mark Bureau(航路標識管理所) and the Naejangwon Bureau(內藏院), the Civil Engineering Bureau(土木部). When Korea was colonized by Japan in 1910, these Japanese organizations were expanded and succeeded the Chosun Governor-General's architectural organizations.
After that, the architectural bureau of Chosun Governor-General was repeatedly named to building and repair section in the 1910's, to construction one in the 1920's, and accounting one in the 1930's according to the revision of its organization, and achieved the construction business depending on the directions of the efficient colonial policy.
The highest level technical bureaucrat, called Gisa(技師), who belonged to the architectural bureau of the Chosun Governor-General, undertook all responsibilities for the organization's business; from design to supervision and completion.
In 1929, the organization of the Governor Gwanbang Accounting section(總督官房 會計課) for construction and repairs did not have divisions. But in 1934, it was separated into three departments : the 1st section, the 2nd section and the 3rd section for construction and repairs which each had a representitive, 笹慶一, 齋藤忠人, 菊川靜治 and 片岡侃 who took charge of the construction and repairs.
The third section did not do independent construction projects, but equiped the 1st and the 2nd section for construction and repairs.
In 1940, the architectural bureau of Governor Gwanbang Accounting section(總督官房 會計課) was divided again into 5 departments : the 1st section, the 2nd section, the 3rd section and the 4th for construction and repairs, and then 'affairs section of building and repairs' added to the organization.
Also, Korean Gisoos(韓國人技手), advanced to the architectural bureau of Chosun Governor-General since Bakgilyong(朴吉龍)'s projects in 1921, performed various tasks such as equipment management, completion-connected inspections, and those activities related to construction.
Their roles examining documents were done by supervisors or inspectors who did usual tasks along with from design business to all construction bureaucracies of Chosun Governor-General. This shows that Koreans played the equal roles in the achievement of business compared to Japanese.
The construction business of Chosun Governor-General was more focused on the plundering and imposing taxes, integral to the colonialization than the modernization on Korea.
Also, the architectural bureau of Chosun Governor-General provided Japanese contractors with an institutionally preferrencial monopoly by exploiting their close relationships. This established an ongoing criminal collusion between them.
Therefore, positively and institutionally supported by Chosun Governor-General. Japanese contractors infiltrated the various industries of Chosun through the opening of treaty ports and railroad businesses, eventually dominating construction business of the Korea Peninsula. While they accumulated capital and technology and grew as international corporations, the construction industry of colonialized Chosun in a germinal stage of development lost all potential to grow like them. Consequently, the Korean construction industry could not become competitive yet and was even prevented from competition in the domestic industries.
In conclusion, during Japan’s colonial rule of Korea, the Chosun Governor-General and Japanese contractors have left a negative legacy for the Korean construction industry such ascorrupted bureaucracy, collusion between politics and business , illegal and nefarious contracts. Today, there are many problems awaiting solutions within the Korean construction. For the future of Korea, it is necessary that this negative legacy be overcome.