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The background and outline of ‘the project to compile the history of Japanese pillage’

The purpose of the project to compile the history of Japanese pillage is to systematically study the colonial policies of imperial Japan and the damage caused by it and publish it in various forms of books. In the meantime, academia has continued to study Japanese pillage. However, there was no case in which it was systematically synthesized and published as a series. This is due to the lack of government interest and academic research. The dissemination of wrong historical facts and consciousness is due to mistakes that failed to critically and comprehensively review the Japanese pillage and colonial rule. It is difficult to expect a proper understanding and study of Korean modern history without correcting it. Based on this awareness of the problem, NAHF started a long journey in 2019 to newly organize and integrate 'history of Japanese pillage'. The points are two.

First, the compilation project was divided into three forms. This was planned for Series of Researches, Series of References, and Series of Understanding. Second, the works of each form were released to the general public. The three types of works mentioned above were intended to be described more easily than the forms and contents of the existing academic books presented by the academic world.

In addition, a committee of 15 members was formed to promote the project smoothly. The compilation committee was chaired by Park Chan-seung, a professor at Hanyang University. When forming a committee, we considered various major fields such as politics, economy, society, culture, education, and forced mobilization.

The Process and Performance: Series of Researches, Series of References, Series of Understanding

First, Series of Researches selected 50 topics that show the aspect of Japanese pillage from the opening of the port to the end of the Japanese colonial rule. Currently, all writers have been selected and are in the process of final publication in 2024. Series of Researches aimed at the results that ordinary citizens could easily understand. It is also expected that graduate students interested in the topic will be able to enter the study and that secondary school teachers will use it as an auxiliary textbook.

Series of References also took topics in various fields such as politics, economy, society, and culture from opening of the port until liberation. This was planned in a total of about 100 volumes. Series of References compiles contents that can be read and utilized by graduate students majoring in each topic and secondary school teachers. So we made it a principle to rewrite or translate the sources needed to explain the topic. NAHF has already published a total of 10 books, including five books related to the Japanese pillage before 1910, and five books related to the sexual slavery victims for the Japanese imperial army.

The Series of Understanding has the nickname 'Knowing Right'. The final result is being published under the name 'Knowing Right for History of Japanese pillage'. The goal is to publish 70 volumes. This series actively utilized photographs, maps, charts, and visual materials so that middle school and high school students could easily approach them.

Especially, ‘Knowing Right for History of Japanese pillage’ is aimed at the widest readers. So we are making various efforts to select topics, organize, promote and publish. For example, ‘30 Scenes of Japanese Pillage’ was published in English and Braille books to maximize its utilization. And the book about the relics related to forced mobilization in Japan was composed of works taken by photographers who visited the scene. In addition, domestic Japanese pillage related relics will be published in the form of essay, as a series.

The Series of Researches, Series of References, Series of Understanding will be distributed to major public institutions as soon as they are published, and various measures will be taken to make it easy for the public to approach.

The Significance of Compilation Project and Future Plan

What should we do to prevent the phenomenon of the history of Japanese pillage being forgotten and denied? Park Kyung-sik is the first scholar to examine the history of Japanese forced mobilization. He said: “To clarify the atrocities of Japanese colonial rule, we should not just define it as military and feudal. We need to make sure that the specifics are clear.” The project to complete the history of Japanese pillage is a work that embodies the imperial Japanese pillage.

The books published through the project to complete the history of Japanese pillage were intended to meet both the 'comprehensive' and 'universal' standards that academia had difficulty in planning. The project covers related topics and is being promoted in various formats. And this Series of Researches, Series of References, Series of Understanding is universal in that it targets ordinary citizens, not researchers. It is a pity that this is being promoted long after 70 years since it escaped Japanese colonial rule. As the project is late to begin, I hope that more people will recognize historical facts correctly. Citizens should awaken through this project. Their perceptions lead to the next generation, so that no one will advocate imperialism, colonialism, history of Japanese pillage.

NAHF plans to publish the results of the project as a book and to produce it as an E-book so that more citizens can face specific facts about the Japanese pillage. E-book will have everyone downloaded free of charge from the website. Also, when the project is completed, we will hold an academic conference to convey the purpose of the project and to publicize the achievements.