Hanryu

Professor Erin McLaughlin

Multimedia Writing and Rhetoric

12 November 2014

Under the Wave

Hanryu        

        Lights go on. Music hallows across the concert hall. A group of Korean teenage singers come on stage and start singing and dancing. Audience sing along, in relatively awkward pronunciation. Some cry in joy, some shout their excitement out as if to show their affection. Yes, they are under the wave, “Hanryu.” Hanryu is a term that refers to the significant increase in the popularity of South Korean pop culture. Initiated by the spread of Korean dramas across East, South, and Southeast Asia, Hanryu solidified its impact through the spread of Korean pop music. The “Hanryu” wave has spread throughout Japan, China, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Australia, and to may more regions. “Hanryu” has formed a wave of cultural exchange across the globe, significantly promoting mutual understanding and improving inter-country relationships. “Hanryu” was a sensational trend of 21st century in Asia.

        Out of all the countries Hanryu was introduced to, Japan exhibited a very special attitude – contempt. The idea of Hanryu even initiated street protests and demonstration involving hundreds of people in Japan. Why? Why was Japan the only country reluctant to accept this new phenomenon? The most compelling reason of this modern case can be found, ironically, in the events that happened almost a century ago: the Japanese Imperial Period. From 1876 to 2014, Japan and Korea has come all the way from the Japanese Imperial Period to the emergence of “Hanryu.” Some say “Hanryu” has finally enclosed the gap history has created between Korea and Japan. However, I argue otherwise.

Japanese Imperial Period: cause and effect

        Also called Korea under Japanese rule, the Japanese Imperial Period officially marked its beginning with the Japan-Korea Treaty of 1876, with which Japanese officials sought to integrate Korea both politically and economically. Japan exploited this document to forcefully open up Korean ports to Japanese trade and to grant extraterritorial rights to Japanese citizens. Soon, the period of Japanese imperial colonial administration began; Koreans were forced to follow Japanese officials’ commands and hence were significantly influenced by Japanese culture, education, and much more. Koreans were severely mistreated with numerous tortures and unequal rights, but the consequence of any sign of rebellion against Japanese rule was public execution. Korea was officially annexed with Japan-Korea Annexation Treaty of 1910, when Japan was defeated in World War II (Moon). Korea has become an independent nation again, but the impact Japan has brought into the country was irreversible. In fact, it is the main causes of modern controversies between these two countries – a wall that impeded Hanryu from being accepted in Japan just like in other countries.  

        The Japanese imperial period isn’t just a historical event to Koreans; in fact, it is still a sensitive topic that makes Koreans furious. It is not surprising that anti-Japanese sentiment is prevalent across the nation. Koreans who initiated rebellions or who participated are still regraded as national heroes in the country; the fact that these figures were killed by Japanese soldiers back then is a trigger to Koreans’ enragement.  For example, the March 1st Movement of 1991,  the most well-known rebellion and which also acted as a catalyst for all other ones, is still “remembered in all Koreans heart” (Soh).  2 million people participated, 46,000 were arrested, 7,500 were killed, and 14,000 were wounded (Soh). Despite the losses, independence movements continued, as well as Japan’s violent repressions. This event is now a “must-know” fact in Korea: it is narrated in every textbook and numerous museums were build just for the memorial of the casualties in this March 1st movement. Another main source of hostility is the existence of comfort women and forced labors during Japanese Imperial Era. Historical documents show 450,000 male laborers were involuntarily sent to Japan to be forced to work under Japanese government. 200,000 comfort women were also forced to serve as Japanese military brothels as a form of sexual slavery (Soh). The descendants of these victims as well as their relatives actively inquest Japan to officially apologize. Even after several apologies, Koreans’ anger is far from fading away. Furthermore, the tortures and mistreatments that Japan has    enforced upon Korea are also still reminded by numerous museums. All of this acted as a chain to deepen the hostility of many Korean civilians towards the Japanese government, and even towards Japan itself.

Anti-Korean Sentiment: vice versa

        As much as anti-Japanese sentiment is prevalent in Korea, same sensation emerged in Japan as well: anti-Korean sentiment. This attitude comes from various sources as well. First of all, there’s a discrepancy in the details of the Japanese Imperial period. Unlike how Korean history states 7,500 were killed and 14,000 were wounded during the March 1st Movement, Japanese government states 553 killed and 1409 wounded (Soh). This inequality makes the tension from Japanese annexation inevitable. Evidence of anti-Korean sentiment can be viewed throughout history. For example, when the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake occurred, most damage was found in a region with high Korean population. Hence rumors spread throughout Japan that Koreans are “poisoning wells.” This reputation has caused massacre of Koreans in different regions – Japanese soldiers tested ethnic Koreans by making them speak a Japanese phrase, exploiting the fact that Koreans have slightly different pronunciation. The moment Koreans made an error in speaking the given phrase, they were executed (Onishi).

        Likewise, Zainichi Koreans, throughout history, in Japan publicly had an image of trouble-makers. Koreans who have a permanent resident in Japan are called “Zainichi Koreans” (Lie). What kind of discriminations do Zainichi Koreans receive in Japan? First of all, Education: ethnic schools that Koreans attend does not get official accredited by the Japanese education ministry; therefore, students of these high schools are not capable of even taking Japanese college entrance examinations. Even after they graduate college, Zainichi Koreans are often rejected in a company due to his or her race. Furthermore, even though Zainichi Koreans pay the equal amount of tax that the Japanese people do, they do not have noting rights, nor social welfare and recruitment for public posts.