My parents sometimes bring up the past about Japanese colonialism and how horrible it was for the people in Korea. They would talk about this matter when they watch the news and conflicts between Japan and Korea come about. At first, I did not know much about what happened in Korea because we are not taught of this matter in the US. Thus, I decided to look into the history of Korea, to understand what my parents were always talking about.
<Japanese Imperialism in Korea (1910-1945)>
The annexation of Korea happened on 1910 when a Treaty of Annexation was signed. This was the start of extreme oppression of the people. Many people were killed and tortured, and the culture was taken away from the people. Speaking Korean was not allowed, using Korean currency was not allowed, and going to school was not allowed. Basically, people’s freedom was taken away. The most saddest parts were when people’s bodies were being used as weapon testers and women were being sexually violated (they were called “comfort women” by the Japanese). Even today, the Koreans mourn for the deaths of so many people and have strong emotions about the past because the Japanese government never officially apologized for the tragic event. Today, the national holiday, March 1st Independence Day, is one of the most important day because it signifies the time where people were finally free from the horrid persecution.
Sources: https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-worldhistory/chapter/the-koreas/
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