The purpose of this study is to understand the characteristics of the education of Japanese residents in Korea by examining Japanese schools and the Hakgyojohap("school Corporation") in Korea during the Japanese colonial rule. The Choson Japanese scho...
The purpose of this study is to understand the characteristics of the education of Japanese residents in Korea by examining Japanese schools and the Hakgyojohap("school Corporation") in Korea during the Japanese colonial rule. The Choson Japanese schools during the Japanese colonial rule was a school for Japanese children who had relocated to Korea and the Hakgyojohap(School Corporation) was a public agency in charge of establishing and operating Japanese schools according to the "Hakgyojohap(School Corporation) Decree" of the Japanese government.
In 1905, the Japanese government began its involvement in the management of Japanese schools which was previously established and operated by individual residents or resident organizations. At this time the "Residents Union Act" was issued while at the same time the Overseas Schooling System was applied to Japanese schools in Korea, and so the Residents Union also began to participate in the establishment and operation of Japanese schools.
In 1909, the Japanese government enacted the "Regulations for Primary School" and "Hakgyojohap(School Corporation) Act" as its first legislations regarding Japanese schools, and with it the Hakgyojohap(School Corporation) from its inception became the key player of the establishment and operation of Japanese schools. However, before this time, there were no restrictions on the eligibility of primary school founders, so founders of primary schools included many ranging from the Residents Union to various women's associations, the Japanese Residents' Association, general residents' associations, and not to mention the Hakgyojohap(School Corporation). This trend continued until 1912 when school founders were restricted to just the Residents Union and Hakgyojohap(School Corporation) as part of various public school controls. Afterwards in 1914 with the abolishment of the Residents Union, only the Hakgyojohap(School Corporation) was allowed to establish Japanese schools in Korea.
The Hakgyojohap(School Corporation), by resolving the educational concerns of Japanese residents in Korea, was a part of the colonial policy of the Japanese Imperial Government to have as many Japanese immigrants permanently settle in Choson as possible.
From 1908 to mid 1944, a total of 506 Hakgyojohaps(School Corporations) were established. According to the revised administrative districts in 1914, the Hakgyojohaps(School Corporations) were established in a total of 229 "bu" and "gun"s which was 98.7% of the total number of the 12 "bu"s and 220 "gun"s nationwide. The Hakgyojohaps(School Corporations) established in the "bu"s from 1914 were closed in 1931 and their role was succeeded by "Department 1 of the Bu Special Economy Ministry" which was an organization within the bu. The schools established and operated by the Hakgyojohap(School Corporation) included primary school, girl's high school, girl's practical high school, commercial training school, simple commercial training school, and kindergarten, but the main responsibility was primary schools.
In 1911, the Japanese leadership in Korea enacted the 1st Choson Education Act to regulate the education of Koreans. Also, in 1912, as a result of various public school controls, the foundation for an education system for Japanese residents in Korea was established. The basic principle for education of Japanese residents in Korea was to "ensure that there was no difference from the education offered in the Japanese homeland." During the term of the 1st Education Act, schools for Korean nationals and Japanese residents in Korea were each governed independently under separate regulations which were the Choson Education Act and the Controls of 1912, respectively.
In the 2nd Education Act, the purpose of the Education Act was changed from "Education of Koreans" to "Education in Korea" which expanded the scope of the Act to both Korean and Japanese nationals. Furthermore, excluding the general schools, the practical schools, professional schools, colleges, and teacher's schools were to follow the laws applied in Japan. In the 3rd Education Act, even general schools were to follow the laws applied in the Japanese homeland and the scope of the common school system was expanded to all schools. Eventually, through the 2nd and 3rd Education Acts, the basic rules of the Korean schooling system were reorganized to be centered around the schooling system of Japanese residents in Korea.
Study results comparing the number of enrollees out of the total population in schools for Korean nationals and schools for Japanese residents in Korea during the Japanese colonial rule showed that the ratio of enrollees in schools for Japanese residents in Korea were higher than that of schools for Korean nationals from as low as 2.9 times to as high as 32 times higher. This shows that the enrollment of Korean nationals in school was low and that their educational opportunities were limited. The gap in educational opportunity due to national discrimination between Koreans and Japanese residents in Korea widened further in higher grades as clearly seen in the enrollment ratios. The average annual tax revenue budget per student of the Hakgyojohap(School Corporation) was also 2.2 times higher compared to Korean students affiliated to the Hakgyobi ("school fund"). In addition, in terms of funding and financial resources, schools for Japanese residents in Korea had a more abundant foundation compared to schools for Korean nationals.
As seen above, the schooling system for Japanese residents in Korea became the prevalent schooling system in Korea after the Japanese annexation of Korea. The basic direction of education for Japanese residents in Korea was to follow the education system of Japan. Consequently, due to the occupation of Korea by Japan, the Japanese education system became the main education system of Korea instead of the traditional Choson education system. Owing to this, Japanese residents in Korea, excluding certain cases determined by the regional circumstances of Korea, were able to receive the same level of education as they would in the Japanese homeland. In addition, as the colonizers, Japanese residents were able to receive differentiated education on a higher level compared to the colonized Koreans.
By changing the education system of Korea as explained above, the Japanese Empire claimed that by proclaiming a "Non-Segregated Education System for Choson and Japan," Koreans and Japanese were receiving equal education. However, in reality that was far from the truth. As seen in this paper, Japan had operated the Hakgyojohap(School Corporation) as a major means to maintain educational discrimination between Japanese residents in Korea and the Choson people. Also, after the commencement of the "Non-Segregated Education System for Choson and Japan," results of a comparative analysis of the actual school conditions of Koreans and Japanese residents in Korea showed that discrimination remained between the two groups in areas such as educational opportunity and educational conditions. In conclusion, the education system enforced during Japanese colonial rule was ultimately part of Japan's assimilation policy pursued through means such as "Oneness of Korea and Japan" or "pledging loyalty to the Japanese Emperor."