GEHI094(00) / Bowoon Keum

(4-2) The Policies of USAMGIK: Changed and Continued

Understanding the Modernity

through Korean History
 Agenda

 Establishment of ‘de-facto Government’

 Replace of People

 the USAMGIK Policies and Change of Korea

 Modern State and Modernity

 Modernization
- material change: economic development / increasing of economic scale
- qualitative change: democratic institution / individual right

System: State [diplomatic relations / agreement]

operation of the state with sovereignty

 Modernity: the character of the state operation

 Occupation of the US

 Japan's Surrender and U.S. Army Military Government in Korea (USAMGIK)

- arrival of the US military (1945.9.4)

- welcoming event of Japanese officer delegation

: guaranty for security of Japanese military

- signing for surrender between Governor-General Abe and Gen. Hodge (1945.9.9)

- linked to the occupation of the U.S. military in Japan

: Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers (GHQ/SCAP) (1945.10.2)

 Occupation of the US

 Liberator and Occupier

- establishment of the US Military Government

〮 releasing confusion after Japanese

〮 de-facto Government [General Order No.1]

: transfer of governing authority

〮 building a provisional government of Korea

: negotiator with the Soviet Union Military Government

 Occupation of the US

 Liberator and Occupier

- suppression of revolutionary trend

- barrier for expansion of the communism

- re-organization of the economic order

- establishment of pro-American government

: ‘liberal zone’ under the Cold War

 Change of People

 Return of Japanese

- USAMGIK Policy for the Japanese military force

〮 withdrawal of Japanese forces: 375,000 of Japanese soldiers were left

〮 confiscation of weapons: de-militarizing

〮 departure places: Pusan, Incheon, Jeju island

〮 property restriction: 200 yen per one person / seizure of jewelries and securities
 Change of People

 Return of Japanese

- distribution and restriction of Japanese military force

〮 prevention of war: destruction of heavy weapon and chemistry munition

〮 seizure of important materials by the US

: military [base / munition / weapon] and medical supplies / economic benefit

〮 limited distribution to Korea: military uniforms and shoes for Korean police
 Change of People

 Return of Japanese

- ‘Japanese Relief Society’ (世話會) by Japanese force

〮 leading the relief activities for Japanese civilians

: 660,000 of Japanese civilians (August 1945~December 1946)

〮 building the Refugee Camps and Mobile Medical Bureau

〮 mostly departed from Pusan + Jinhae, Incheon, and Mokpo

 Change of People

 Return of Koreans

- war victims: forced mobilization and taking part in a war

- lack of support for transportation and staying around ports

- un-authorized return and failure: the torpedo of the US / wind and waves

- mostly landed at the port of Pusan

: 80,000 of Koreans returned to Korea (April~December 1946)

- ‘Chosun Relief Alliance for Returnees’ : building the camp and support
 Change of People
 Return of Koreans

- confusion

〮 disinfection and exchange money of the Bank of Japan with the Bank of Chosun

〮 population surge / a shortage of foods and houses / sanitation issues / unemployment

〮 dirty environment in ships and spread of Cholera during the travel

: 17,000 of patients and 11,000 of the dead

→ failure of prevention by the US

[criticism on unsanitary of Koreans vs. strengthening a distrust to the US of Koreans]

 Change of People

 Cross the 38th parallel

- allowance to cross (~April 1946)

- traders, students, home and workplaces

 USAMGIK Policy: Economy

 Financial Control: Land

- ‘New Korean Public Corporation’ (Shinhan-gongsa, 新韓公社, February 1946)

: collecting rice and managing tenants [basic financial resource]

- reform for farming land: distribution of the lands to tenants (March 1948)

: pay of 20% of annual average production for 15years

 USAMGIK Policy: Economy

 Financial Control: Vested Property

- securing the Japanese military or government properties: economic incapacitation

- conflict with the ‘Independent Factory Management Movement’

- appointment the managers by the USAMGIK

: remaining the Japanese mangers, engineers

* ‘Independent Factory Management Movement’

: for democratic labor environment: appointment the CEO or manager by the employees
 USAMGIK Policy: Economy

 Financial Control: Vested Property

- selling the companies to Korean capitalist

: foundation of the current major companies [Hyundai / Samsung / Doosan etc.]

- managing the factories under the control of USAMGIK

〮 direct managing by the US officials for the major industry like the electronic power

〮 the basis of pro-American group

〮 continuing or expanding of the powers which the leaders have had

 USAMGIK Policy: Economy
 Controlled [Planned] Economy by the USAMGIK

- shortage of products for living and inflation

- withdrawals money by Japanese + increasing the occupation cost

- need of numeric stabilization without production

- control of rice + price

〮 Materials Control Corporation (November 1945) / National Economic Board (May 1946)

〮 Civilian Supply Program / Government and Relief in Occupied Area (GARIOA)

→ worrying about being to be seen same as Imperialism and Socialism [Strong State]
 USAMGIK Policy: Social Control

 Utilizing of Public Safety Manpower under Japanese Colonial Rule

- dismantled self-sustaining security organization (September 1945)

- continuance of existing police power

: Cho, Byeong-ok, Chang, Taek-sang (the Chief of the National Police)

- basic purpose

〮 the left-wing sweep and anti-communism

〮 easing resistance to the USAMGIK

 USAMGIK Policy: Social Control

 Foundation of the Forces

- Korean Constabulary (1946.1.15)

〮 suppression of revolutionary forces in Korea

〮 the US support with fund and equipment: Korean Constabulary Training Center (1946.5.1)

〮 education for the executives and interpreters: Military Language School (1945.12.5)

- limited power comparing with police

- basic members: Manchurian forces, Japanese forces

 USAMGIK Policy: Social Control
 Judiciary
- important for determining illegality [communism / left activities]
- almost identical to the colonial period
- limited human resources for the judiciary after exclusion of the left
〮 the Judge (82.5% of colonial period, 17.5% special appointment)
〮 the Prosecutor (43% of colonial period, 57% special appointment)
→ purpose of the USAMGIK
[the stabilization of a ‘liberal zone’ > liquidation of coloniality]
 USAMGIK Policy: Cultural Reorganization

 Expansion Information Services of the UAMGIK

- overcoming the ‘Japanese Modernism’: criticism on western civilization by Japan

[western countries as Imperialism and racial discrimination]

- organization of pro-American groups and securing public support: the US for Korea

- propaganda: Office of Civil Information, OCI (1947.5.30)

〮 understanding the American life and their foreign policy

〮 good will to America and acknowledgement of the U.S. superiority

〮 Newsreels, exhibitions, and translated articles of the U.S. magazine

 USAMGIK Policy: Cultural Reorganization

 Conflict and Discrimination

- rational and cultural hierarchy between the US and Koreans

〮 ‘gook’ / as an inferior occupied subject

〮 education for sanitation by the General

〮 violence and murder by the U.S. soldiers

- language barrier / mutual lack of information

→ the nature of occupation

 Conclusion

 Change of the Sovereignty Subject and People

 Continuance of Governance under the Japanese Colonial Rule

 USAMGIK Dominance Power: Economic / Social / Cultural Reorganization