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Real Reality
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Location: Seoul
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 Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2005 9:16 am Post subject: Professor under fire for praise of Japan |
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Professor under fire for praise of Japan
A magazine article by a retired professor who wrote in praise of Japan's colonial rule in Korea has ignited a firestorm in academic circles and among the public, leading last night to the professor's resignation from Korea University. In a contribution to Seiron, a monthly publication put out by the Sankei Shimnun newspaper, Hahn Sung-joe, a professor emeritus at Korea University, argued Japan's occupation of Korea from 1910 to 1945 should be regarded as a godsend.
"The fortunate part about the occupation of Korea is that it was Japan that had colonized the peninsula," Mr. Hahn wrote. "It was rather a blessing for Korea." In the article and afterwards in an interview with Korean media, Mr. Hahn said that the early 1900s were a period of fierce competition among regional powers in Asia. "At the time, if Japan had not occupied Korea, Russia would have done so," the prominent 75-year-old politics professor said. "If it were Russia, the Korean Peninsula would have been communized. Korean people would have been dispersed under Stalin's policies. Therefore, I think Japan's colonial rule rather reinforced Koreans' awareness and nationalism."
by Baek Il-hyun and Ser Myo-ja, JoongAng Daily (March 07, 2005)
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/200503/06/200503062206547179900090409041.html |
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mithridates
Joined: 03 Mar 2003
Location: President's office, Korean Space Agency
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| Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2005 3:58 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| At the time, if Japan had not occupied Korea, Russia would have done so," the prominent 75-year-old politics professor said. |
Funny, I've been saying the same thing for quite some time now. Good thing I'm not a professor. |
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VanIslander
Joined: 18 Aug 2003
Location: Geoje, Hadong, Tongyeong,... now in a small coastal island town outside Gyeongsangnamdo!
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| Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2005 4:23 pm Post subject: |
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| In America, the land of the free, professors have almost lost their jobs over similarly inflammatory statements against public sentiments. |
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mithridates
Joined: 03 Mar 2003
Location: President's office, Korean Space Agency
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| Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2005 4:29 pm Post subject: |
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| Weird. I thought I just wrote the same thing as you (regarding feminism) and when I looked at it I actually didn't. That Harvard professor, for example...I think RR put a post up about him a month ago. |
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mindmetoo
Joined: 02 Feb 2004
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| Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2005 4:31 pm Post subject: |
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| mithridates wrote: |
| Quote: |
| At the time, if Japan had not occupied Korea, Russia would have done so," the prominent 75-year-old politics professor said. |
Funny, I've been saying the same thing for quite some time now. Good thing I'm not a professor. |
It's akin to praising Hitler for the "good" he did in Germany... or the urban legend that Mussolini at least got the trains to run on time (an often told legend that wasn't true). It's a very fine and careful line you have to walk. But if ending German unemployment is achieved by genocide and a redistribution of Jewish wealth, well, it's an ends vs means issue.
The lousy street address system aside, sure, the Japanese did a lot of good in Korea. I'm pretty sure Koreans flung poo before the Japanese came along, but if having a grandmother hauled away as a sex slave is the price paid for the indoor plumbing you enjoy today, many might not think that's a great deal. I'd rather my culture got their on its own speed and terms. |
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VanIslander
Joined: 18 Aug 2003
Location: Geoje, Hadong, Tongyeong,... now in a small coastal island town outside Gyeongsangnamdo!
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| Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2005 4:36 pm Post subject: |
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| mindmetoo wrote: |
It's akin to praising Hitler for the "good" he did in Germany... or the urban legend that Mussolini at least got the trains to run on time (an often told legend that wasn't true). It's a very fine and careful line you have to walk. But if ending German unemployment is achieved by genocide and a redistribution of Jewish wealth, well, it's an ends vs means issue.
The lousy street address system aside, sure, the Japanese did a lot of good in Korea. I'm pretty sure Koreans flung poo before the Japanese came along, but if having a grandmother hauled away as a sex slave is the price paid for the indoor plumbing you enjoy today, many might not think that's a great deal. |
Great point!
And I imagine it's close to the sentiments of many Koreans. |
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desultude
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Location: Dangling my toes in the Persian Gulf
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| Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2005 4:46 pm Post subject: |
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| VanIslander wrote: |
| mindmetoo wrote: |
It's akin to praising Hitler for the "good" he did in Germany... or the urban legend that Mussolini at least got the trains to run on time (an often told legend that wasn't true). It's a very fine and careful line you have to walk. But if ending German unemployment is achieved by genocide and a redistribution of Jewish wealth, well, it's an ends vs means issue.
The lousy street address system aside, sure, the Japanese did a lot of good in Korea. I'm pretty sure Koreans flung poo before the Japanese came along, but if having a grandmother hauled away as a sex slave is the price paid for the indoor plumbing you enjoy today, many might not think that's a great deal. |
Great point!
And I imagine it's close to the sentiments of many Koreans. |
Funny, someone asked me the other day if I thought French colonialism had been a good thing for Viet Nam, because they brought the alphabet to the Vietnamese, as well as some other good things (hell, they have damned good baguettes and coffee- vive la France!).
But your point is correct- the benefits of colonialism had too great a price. Maybe the U.S. will learn this with Iraq. Naa, not likely. |
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cellphone
Joined: 18 Feb 2004
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| Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2005 5:21 pm Post subject: |
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It sounds like Van Islander is talking about Ward Churchill.
Listen history is to be truthful, accurate, and does not have to appeal to modern persons' sentiments. |
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VanIslander
Joined: 18 Aug 2003
Location: Geoje, Hadong, Tongyeong,... now in a small coastal island town outside Gyeongsangnamdo!
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| Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2005 5:26 pm Post subject: |
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| cellphone wrote: |
| Listen history is to be truthful, accurate, and does not have to appeal to modern persons' sentiments. |
In history books, yes, you're right.
In newspapers and popular magazines, no.
There is a big difference between the two places.
Imagine an American newspaper publishing a story about how the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour was good for the U.S. (which academics have argued it was). |
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shakuhachi
Joined: 08 Feb 2003
Location: Sydney
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| Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2005 5:58 pm Post subject: |
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| VanIslander wrote: |
| cellphone wrote: |
| Listen history is to be truthful, accurate, and does not have to appeal to modern persons' sentiments. |
In history books, yes, you're right.
In newspapers and popular magazines, no.
There is a big difference between the two places.
Imagine an American newspaper publishing a story about how the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour was good for the U.S. (which academics have argued it was). |
Thats a helluva commitment to the truth you have there, VanIslander. Ill be sure to keep it in mind if I ever meet you.
This reminds of of a deleted thread in which a Kyopo poster blamed western influence for the risque fashions worn by Korean women. Dogbert posted conclusive photographic proof that nudity in the old Korea was an everyday occurence. By your standard the Kyopo is right just because his sentiment is against the truth. Honestly, I cant understand this kind of thinking. |
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Yu_Bum_suk
Joined: 25 Dec 2004
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| Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2005 6:55 pm Post subject: |
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| mindmetoo wrote: |
| mithridates wrote: |
| Quote: |
| At the time, if Japan had not occupied Korea, Russia would have done so," the prominent 75-year-old politics professor said. |
Funny, I've been saying the same thing for quite some time now. Good thing I'm not a professor. |
The lousy street address system aside, sure, the Japanese did a lot of good in Korea. |
My own theory is that the Koreans mixed up all the street signs to confuse the Japanese, but then the Japanese stayed so long that everyone just got used to it. |
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Barking Mad Lord Snapcase
Joined: 04 Nov 2003
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| Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2005 6:57 pm Post subject: |
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| VanIslander wrote: |
| cellphone wrote: |
| Listen history is to be truthful, accurate, and does not have to appeal to modern persons' sentiments. |
In history books, yes, you're right.
In newspapers and popular magazines, no.
There is a big difference between the two places.
Imagine an American newspaper publishing a story about how the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour was good for the U.S. (which academics have argued it was). |
There's nothing wrong with basic facts being quoted in newspapers and magazines. It's the way you express them that counts.
Stating that "War X was good for Nation Y" is an opinion, because there are arguments either way. It's about balance and objectivity. |
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Yu_Bum_suk
Joined: 25 Dec 2004
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| Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2005 7:02 pm Post subject: |
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| Barking Mad Lord Snapcase wrote: |
| VanIslander wrote: |
| cellphone wrote: |
| Listen history is to be truthful, accurate, and does not have to appeal to modern persons' sentiments. |
In history books, yes, you're right.
In newspapers and popular magazines, no.
There is a big difference between the two places.
Imagine an American newspaper publishing a story about how the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour was good for the U.S. (which academics have argued it was). |
There's nothing wrong with basic facts being quoted in newspapers and magazines. It's the way you express them that counts.
Stating that "War X was good for Nation Y" is an opinion, because there are arguments either way. It's about balance and objectivity. |
When it comes to history it's hard even to determine what the 'basic facts' are, especially when you need subjective vocabulary to describe them. |
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mindmetoo
Joined: 02 Feb 2004
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| Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2005 9:05 pm Post subject: |
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| shakuhachi wrote: |
| VanIslander wrote: |
| cellphone wrote: |
| Listen history is to be truthful, accurate, and does not have to appeal to modern persons' sentiments. |
In history books, yes, you're right.
In newspapers and popular magazines, no.
There is a big difference between the two places.
Imagine an American newspaper publishing a story about how the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour was good for the U.S. (which academics have argued it was). |
Thats a helluva commitment to the truth you have there, VanIslander. Ill be sure to keep it in mind if I ever meet you.
This reminds of of a deleted thread in which a Kyopo poster blamed western influence for the risque fashions worn by Korean women. Dogbert posted conclusive photographic proof that nudity in the old Korea was an everyday occurence. By your standard the Kyopo is right just because his sentiment is against the truth. Honestly, I cant understand this kind of thinking. |
Wait, someone had a problem with Korean women in miniskirts? What a phag!
Anyway, reading the prof's points, he's makes a good case, of course. He wasn't saying, as I commented off hand above, that he's heaping praise on Japan for the introduction of sewers and a phone system in exchange for having every 17 year old Korean girl thrown into a brothel. Ultimately, all he was trying to say is if the Japanese didn't come in and set up shop, the Russians would have. The Koreans at least had a chance against the Japanese and, in hind sight, things turned out a lot better than they would have under the Soviet yoke.
However, his word choices seem a little too glowing. Calling it a "godsend" and a "blessing" doesn't make for good PR. It's like saying "well, sure, my dad was killed by a terrorist and died horribly but his insurance policy made me rich! His death was a godsend!"
He sure does lack sympathy and tact. And that kind of talk only helps the Japanese exculpate their own crimes. The Japanese themselves have argued as much in their justification for WWII. "We had to invade all your little Asian nations to keep the Western powers from invading you first!"
The Germans tended to cast their own history in that light, especially their many invasions of the east. German history books tended to explain it like "well, those Polish kingdoms had no culture and they were just begging for the German people to show them how to wipe their asses and such." The Poles, of course, see their own history in a very different light. At least modern Germany has the decency to vet their history text books past historians in nations that suffered under German WWII occupation. |
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Manner of Speaking
Joined: 09 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2005 11:09 pm Post subject: |
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Sounds like two issues at work here: 1) Whether or not Japanese colonialism was a bad thing, and 2) whether or not a professor has the right to present a dissenting viewpoint of history, without losing his job. The whole point of academic freedom is to give room so that ideas can be debated and judged on their merits.
If people felt the guy was wrong, he should have been engaged in a debate, not fired. |
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