This paper seeks to examine the activities of Chosun -Nongminsa (Chosun Association of Farmers) focusing on its social movements. Peasant movements during the Japanese occupation generally showed nationalistic colors but along with such movements, org...
This paper seeks to examine the activities of Chosun -Nongminsa (Chosun Association of Farmers) focusing on its social movements. Peasant movements during the Japanese occupation generally showed nationalistic colors but along with such movements, organized activities to secure social position for the farming populace were also present. Chosun-Nongminsa was founded in 1925 and was active until middle of 1930's as a legitimate organization.
1920's, Chosun-Nongminsa published papers for the peasant population and expanded the organization among the readers and it also put its efforts into educating the peasant population through giving lectures and running training programs. The leadership of the Nongminsa took education as its foremost task, realizing that without weeding out ignorance among the farming population, a movement of any form could not be achieved. A peasant class awakened by education was necessary in order to lead participation of farming class into social movements. Alongside such task, Chosun-Nongminsa continued to expand its economic movements. Their economic movements included activities of the Alsun-bu (management department), Nongmingongseang-johap (communal union of farmers) and communal farming. These secured economic gains for the farmers and, it seems, aimed to expand the socioeconomic status of the peasant class.
In this respect, the activities of Chosun-Nongminsa take a form that is characteristic of social movements. Firstly, through organization of peasant body, the farming population was gathered. Then raising awareness of the peasants through educatory movement, the foundation for movement participation was formed and through continued economic activities, rise of socioeconomic status of peasant class was sought.
However, the limits of Nongminsa can be shown in its position of not taking active opposition against the Japanese in the historical context of Japanese occupation by force. In order to remain and continue its activities until 1930 as a legitimate organization, a certain amount of compromise with the authorities was necessary. This particular aspect is the most pronounced problem pointed out when examining colonial era peasant movements in nationalist perspective.
Nonetheless, when these are examined as a social movement, a different conclusion can be arrived at. Although the Japanese authorities recognized Nongminsa activities as legitimate, constant interference and checks were present throughout the life of the organization. In other words, even though a movement may take non-political approach, the effects on the peasant class and the ramifications of the movement cannot be predicted. Therefore, just because of the fact Chosun-Nongminsa did not oppose the authorities head-on, the influence of its movements among the peasant class should not be negatively evaluated. Even during the time of occupation, social movements did exist and such movements induced gradual social change.