Category: Model Korean Family

Pro-Japanese Korean colonel (신태영)’s full 1943 speech offering Koreans redemption from their “shame” inherited from ancestors who made them “like cats and dogs” that seek safety and parental attachments over national duty, giving them a chance to volunteer in the Imperial Army

2024-06-29

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Throughout 1943 in colonial Korea, the main national newspaper of the country, Keijo Nippo (Gyeongseong Ilbo), was filled with war

Military

“Koreans need to assimilate with the Japanese people as soon as possible … There is no other way. This is also the path to our boundless happiness as Koreans!” said Imperial Army veteran 신태영 in 1943 memoir, who later became Minister of National Defense of South Korea and is now buried at Seoul National Cemetery

2024-06-16

289

“As Koreans, we have been given the new mission of becoming subjects of Imperial Japan, uniting completely with the Yamato

Military

Imperial Japan lavished praise on 박춘금 (朴春琴), first Korean member of the Japanese Diet, for sending his only son 박춘웅 (朴春雄) off to war, the son’s name reappears as an agent in a 1957 North Korean spy operation against Japan called the Shinkomaru Incident (新光丸事件)

2024-05-27

283

I came across another fascinating 1943 article from Keijo Nippo, a known propaganda tool for the Imperial Japanese regime during

Model Korean Family

Korean candidate defiantly ran for office in 1943 Seoul elections without official endorsement, only to be forced to drop out and thank Master Imaizumi for soothing his ‘dissatisfaction with the world’

2024-05-10

265

This article details the story of Mr. Kanemitsu (likely originally Mr. Kim) a member of the Seoul prefectural assembly during

Model Korean Family

Elderly Korean farmer Kim Chi-gu (김치구, 金致龜), featured in 1943 article fervently donating 150,000 kg of rice to the Imperial Japanese Army every year and receiving honors from Prime Minister Tojo at a formal awards ceremony in Haeju

2024-04-22

323

I wanted to share an intriguing article that I recently came across in an old issue of the Keijo Nippo

Model Korean Family

Niece of Korean collaborator nobleman Yoon Deok-yeong (윤덕영, 尹徳栄) was featured in 1939 article declaring ‘I really want to marry a Japanese man’ and adopting the Japanese surname ‘Izu’ to improve her marriage prospects

2024-04-14

338

The following article from 1939 features a young 21-year-old Korean woman celebrating her newly given ability to change her surname

Military

The Lim Family portrayed as happy, model pro-Japanese Koreans eagerly sending their eldest son Yeongjo to enlist in the ‘honorable’ Imperial Army as his little sister Imako-chan frolics with joy (Dec. 1943)

2024-03-03

292

In December 1943, amidst the turmoil of World War II, Korea found itself under the colonial rule of Imperial Japan,

Korean Workers

Model Korean mother left baby and bedridden husband behind at home to work as a clerk for Imperial Japanese Army, praised by boss for happily working overtime, early morning to late at night for 1/3 the usual pay without complaining, even when so exhausted she couldn’t see straight (Feb. 1944)

2024-02-10

334

This article features Mrs. Ahn, a Seoul native, who in the midst of war, leaves behind her baby and bedridden

Model Korean Family

Park Deuk-hyeon (박득현/朴得鉉) became a communist activist in 1928 as a student in Tokyo and struggled against colonial rule for a decade until he ‘repented’ and became an avowed Imperialist upon seeing his Japanese sister-in-law’s ‘exalted spiritual love’ toward his ailing mother and brother

2023-03-09

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This article is about Park Deuk-hyeon (박득현, 朴得鉉), a Korean communist activist who was involved in resistance activities against Imperial

Daily Life

This Korean family donated their metallic tableware in February 1943 to help Imperial Japan’s war effort, including their brass Sinseollo (신선로, 神仙爐), a prized cooking vessel that was passed down the generations from their ancestors in the Korean royal court

2023-02-27

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This article shows a Korean man and his maidservant donating 32 brass items for Imperial Japan’s war effort, including a