![Historical Differences
Education/administrative policies (Korea):
“If one finds [in the colonial period]
enlightenment and progress, one also finds
national subjugation, shame and betrayal,
political authoritarianism and violence, and
profound human suffering.” (Kang, 2001)](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/f04da04c-3a0a-4a3b-b6ef-db051083789a-160716000425/85/Final-Thesis-Defense-46-320.jpg)
Final Thesis Defense
- 1. S Tigers in the Sun: South Korean and Taiwanese People’s Opinions Toward Japan Daniel Josephson 林文森 Advisor: Dr. Ming Lee 李明
- 2. Introduction “65% of Taiwanese feel either ‘close’ or ‘really close’ to Japan.” (IAJ, 2012) 76.6% of South Koreans “held ‘unfavorable’ or ‘relatively unfavorable’ views of Japan.” (Genron EAI, 2013) 79% of South Korean people have negative feelings toward Japan (BBC, 2014) 4.5% of South Koreans “like” Japan, while 44% “dislike” her. (SC, 2015-16) 40.2% of Taiwanese people “like” Japan, while 7.54% “dislike” her. (SC, 2015-16)
- 3. Research Objectives To find out why these two former colonies’ citizens have such contrasting opinions toward Japan Why is there such a difference in Taiwanese and South Korean people’s public opinions toward Japan?
- 4. Methodology Quantitative: Self-conducted surveys in Taiwan and South Korea (18 – 71+) Secondary Sociological Data Qualitative: Personal interviews (ROK & ROC, older and younger generations)
- 5. Powered by South Korean Survey S 12/12/2015 – 1/10/2016
- 6. Q12: 12. 일본에 대한 본인의 감정을 어떻게 정의할 것인가? How would you describe your feeling towards Japan? Answered: 200 Skipped: 0
- 7. Q12: 12. 일본에 대한 본인의 감정을 어떻게 정의할 것인가? How would you describe your feeling towards Japan? Answered: 200 Skipped: 0
- 8. Q2: 2. 다음 연령대 중 본인이 속하는 그룹을 선택하시오? Which age group are you in?
- 9. Q2: 2.다음 연령대 중 본인이 속하는 그룹을 선택하시오? Which age group are you in? Answered: 200 Skipped: 0
- 10. Powered by Taiwanese Survey S 12/17/2015 – 1/13/2016
- 11. Q12: 您會怎麼形容您對日本的感覺？How would you describe your feeling towards Japan? Answered: 199 Skipped: 1
- 12. Q12: 您會怎麼形容您對日本的感覺？How would you describe your feeling towards Japan? Answered: 199 Skipped: 1
- 13. Q2: 您的是在哪個年齡層？Which age group are you in? S Answered: 200 Skipped: 0
- 14. Q2: 您的是在哪個年齡層？Which age group are you in? Answered: 200 Skipped: 0
- 15. Personal Interviews Professor Yuan I (November, 2015) “I think that the unification issue differs drastically, simply because the sheer size of the two divided nations.” National Chengchi University (NCCU) Department of International Relations Cross-strait relations
- 16. Personal Interviews Jia-ge 賈哥 (January, 2016) “Japan treated Taiwan as a colony, not her own country.” First generation Taiwanese restaurateur Active KMT/NP supporter
- 17. Personal Interviews Wu Xuan Liang 吳宣亮 (January, 2016) “I was taught to think, but not to talk.” Camera equipment business owner Active DPP supporter
- 18. Personal Interviews Won Jong Eem 원종임 (November, 2015) “Frankly speaking, I don't like Japan much in the light of politics and history..” JPL Certified South Korean housewife Educated at Chung-an University (Anseong- si)
- 19. Personal Interviews Mr. Kim “We, Korean people, are really mad about Japan's behavior and reaction about Japanese colonial rule and enforced sex slaves.” Pohang, South Korea Pattern related design (FIT, NY, USA)
- 20. Hypothesis South Korean and Taiwanese people have very contrasting opinions toward Japan due to a combination of historical differences, and Taiwanese people’s political attitudes toward Mainland China.
- 21. Theoretical Framework The theory ties a lower level of negativity from Taiwanese people toward Japan because of a more negative political attitude toward Mainland China, as well as a different historical outlook on the Japanese rule and what followed it. Both a historically and contemporarily based theory; this theory involves the effects of mid-twentieth century history, in combination with an international relations based theory which is tied to ideologies surrounding reunification with China or North Korea
- 22. Theoretical Framework Independent variable(1): Opinions toward overall effects of Japanese colonial rule dependent variable: opinion towards Japan Independent variable(2): Opinions toward historical events during and after Japanese colonial rule dependent variable: opinion towards Japan Independent variable(3): Political attitude towards unification with Mainland China/North Koreadependent variable: opinion towards Japan
- 23. Theoretical Framework Intervening Variable(I): Age group Intervening Variable (II): Political party identification Both of these intervening variables are significant, but have proven to be too weak to be considered as crucial independent variables. Taiwan and South Korea are both <15% senior citizens Many Taiwanese and South Koreans do not choose parties
- 24. Q3: 3. 다음 중 본인이 정치적으로 지지하는 정 당을 선택하시오? Which politically party do you affiliate yourself with? Answered: 200 Skipped: 0
- 25. Q3: 3. 다음 중 본인이 정치적으로 지지하는 정 당을 선택하시오? Which politically party do you affiliate yourself with? Answered: 200 Skipped: 0
- 26. Q9: 您支持的政黨為？ Which political party do you affiliate yourself with? Answered: 200 Skipped: 0
- 27. Q9: 您支持的政黨為？ Which political party do you affiliate yourself with? Answered: 200 Skipped: 0
- 28. Literature Review “INSIGHT: Do South Koreans really hate Japan?” (Asahi Shimbun, 2013) “The Odd Couple: Japan and Taiwan’s unlikely friendship” (Thim, Matusoka, 2014) “Taiwan Under Japanese Colonial Rule, 1895 – 1945: History, Culture, Memory.” (Liao, Wang, 2006) “Japanese Colonialism in Taiwan: Land Tenure, Development, and Dependency, 1895 – 1945.” (Ka, 1995) “Under the Black Umbrella: Voices from Colonial Korea, 1910 – 1945.” (Hildi, 2005)
- 29. Literature Review “Disciplining Taiwan: The Kuomintang’s Methods of Control during the White Terror Era (1947 – 1987)” (Chen, 2015) “Democracy on Trial: Social Movements and Cultural Politics in Postauthoritarian Taiwan” (Chuang, 2013) “Korean Comfort Women: The Intersection of Colonial Comfort, Gender, and Power.” (Min, 2003) “Why Now is the Time to Resolve the Dokdo/Takeshima Dispute.” (Bowman, 2013) “China: Fragile Superpower” (Shirk, 2007)
- 30. Literature Review (cont’d…) Chungku, Kang, Euicheol, Lee, Friedhoff, &Jiyoon, Kim. “South Korean Attitudes toward North Korea and Reunification.” Public Opinion Studies Program, Asan Report (Feb. 2015): 29 – 35 Mearsheimer, John J. “Say Goodbye to Taiwan.” The National Interest, March-April 2014.
- 31. Historical Differences Resistance/violence: South Korean comfort women (200,000) Taiwanese comfort women (2,000) March 1st Incident (3/1/1919) - 45,000 prisoners, nearly 16,000 injured, and over 7,500 dead. Tapani Incident (1915) – 1,424 prisoners, 1,412 dead.
- 32. Q11: 11. 나는 다음의 사건들을 떠올릴 시, 분노 나 슬픔이 일어나는 것을 느낀다. (해당되는 모든 항 목을 선택하시오.) The following names or incidents incite sorrow or anger. (Check all that apply) Answered: 194 Skipped: 6
- 33. Q11: 11. 나는 다음의 사건들을 떠올릴 시, 분노 나 슬픔이 일어나는 것을 느낀다. (해당되는 모든 항 목을 선택하시오.) The following names or incidents incite sorrow or anger. (Check all that apply) Answered: 194 Skipped: 6
- 34. Q11: 下列事件激發悲痛或憤怒。(可複選) The following names or incidents incite sorrow or anger. (Check all that apply) Answered: 180 Skipped: 20
- 35. Q11: 下列事件激發悲痛或憤怒。(可複選) The following names or incidents incite sorrow or anger. (Check all that apply) Answered: 180 Skipped: 20
- 36. Historical Differences Resistance/violence: “Bandit” casualties (1903)- >10,000 dead Jia-ge 賈哥 – said that during the turn of the century, the media was not nearly effective as it was by the mid 1900s, and used the term Mei-yopu-bian 沒有鋪變, or “not widespread.” Reflecting off of the same phrase, he also said that it was also the nature of the late 19th century and early 20th century uprisings that do not upset the Taiwanese today. Because the roughly 10,000 “bandits” were dispersed from different movements throughout the island, many Taiwanese people do not take it as personally. The uprisings, according to Jia-ge賈哥 , were not exactly a collective movement, and because of that, it is not remembered the same way as the February 28, 1947 – an incident that Taiwanese people never forget.
- 37. Historical Differences Resistance/violence: Professor Yuan I - “Japan took a more forceful policy with South Korea.” Koreans were not treated the same as Taiwanese, and there were higher numbers of deaths and comfort women, or forced sex slaves. It is for reasons such as this that Koreans of today, from information that has been passed down, feel much more negatively toward Japan than Taiwanese of today. Dr. Yuan’s input, as well as empirical data that I retrieved from my own surveys, continue to prove one half of my argument that due to historical differences, Taiwanese people have more neutral or positive feelings toward Japan than South Korean people do.
- 38. Q4: 4. 일본 식민지 시절은 극단적이고도 무의 미한 폭력의 시기였다. Japanese colonization was a period of extreme, pointless violence. Answered: 200 Skipped: 0
- 39. Q4: 4. 일본 식민지 시절은 극단적이고도 무의 미한 폭력의 시기였다. Japanese colonization was a period of extreme, pointless violence. Answered: 200 Skipped: 0
- 40. Q3: 日本殖民統治是一段極端且無意義的暴力行為 。Japanese colonization was a period of extreme, pointless violence. Answered: 200 Skipped: 0
- 41. Q3: 日本殖民統治是一段極端且無意義的暴力行為 。Japanese colonization was a period of extreme, pointless violence. Answered: 200 Skipped: 0
- 42. Q12: 12. 일본에 대한 본인의 감정을 어떻게 정의할 것인가? How would you describe your feeling towards Japan? Answered: 136 Skipped: 0
- 43. Q12: 12. 일본에 대한 본인의 감정을 어떻게 정의할 것인가? How would you describe your feeling towards Japan? Answered: 136 Skipped: 0 *44% Total “dislike”
- 44. Q12: 您會怎麼形容您對日本的感覺？How would you describe your feeling towards Japan? Answered: 150 Skipped: 0
- 45. Q12: 您會怎麼形容您對日本的感覺？How would you describe your feeling towards Japan? Answered: 150 Skipped: 0
- 46. Historical Differences Education/administrative policies (Korea): “If one finds [in the colonial period] enlightenment and progress, one also finds national subjugation, shame and betrayal, political authoritarianism and violence, and profound human suffering.” (Kang, 2001)
- 47. Q5: 5. 일본의 식민지 지배로 인해 대한민국은 어떠 한 교육적, 경제적 특혜도 입지 않았다. There were not any educational or economic benefits from Japanese colonization. Answered: 199 Skipped: 1
- 48. Q5: 5. 일본의 식민지 지배로 인해 대한민국은 어떠 한 교육적, 경제적 특혜도 입지 않았다. There were not any educational or economic benefits from Japanese colonization. Answered: 199 Skipped: 1
- 49. Historical Differences Education/administrative policies (Taiwan): Jia-ge 賈哥 - “The Japanese government treated Taiwan as a colony, not as her own country; they took Taiwan’s resources, like wood and minerals, and used them.” Mr. Lai – “Japan treated Taiwanese the same…like the U.S. did to the Philippines, and France did to Vietnam.”
- 50. Q4: 日本殖民統治時並沒有帶來任何教育或經濟利益。 There were not any educational or economic benefits from Japanese colonization. Answered: 200 Skipped: 0
- 51. Q4: 日本殖民統治時並沒有帶來任何教育或經濟利益。 There were not any educational or economic benefits from Japanese colonization. Answered: 200 Skipped: 0
- 52. Contemporary Political Issues Taiwanese people’s political attitudes toward Mainland China affect their opinions toward Japan. Mearsheimer, John J. “Say Goodbye to Taiwan.” The National Interest, March-April 2014. This research article Election Study Center shows that only 10% of ROC citizens support reunification with Mainland China (90% want to maintain the status quo indefinitely, and 80.2% would opt for independence if there was no war.)
- 53. Contemporary Political Issues My own empirical data shows that 33.5% of ROC respondents are neutral or in agreement with reunification with Mainland China, while only 17.5% fully support it. It shows that only 1.64% of respondents who “disagree” and only 2.78% who “strongly disagree” with the “one-country, two systems” policy “dislike” Japan. It also shows that 55.56% of respondents who “strongly disagree” with the “one- country, two systems” policy “like” Japan.
- 54. Q12: 您會怎麼形容您對日本的感覺？How would you describe your feeling towards Japan? Answered: 133 Skipped: 1
- 55. Q12: 您會怎麼形容您對日本的感覺？How would you describe your feeling towards Japan? Answered: 133 Skipped: 1
- 56. Contemporary Political Issues By contrast, South Korean people tend to be more open to reunification with North Korea. Chungku, Kang, Euicheol, Lee, Friedhoff, &Jiyoon, Kim. “South Korean Attitudes toward North Korea and Reunification.” Public Opinion Studies Program, Asan Report (Feb. 2015): 29 – 35 This research study/survey 82.6% of ROK citizens “are interested” in unification with North Korea.
- 57. Contemporary Political Issues My own empirical data shows that 70.5% of ROK respondents are neutral or in agreement with future reunification with the DPRK, and 46.5% fully support it. Because of this, South Korean people do not view Japan as a military safeguard like many Taiwanese people do.
- 58. Q8: 8. 나는 미래에 남한과 북한의 통일이 일어나기 를 원치 않는다. I am opposed to any future unification of North and South Korea. Answered: 200 Skipped: 0
- 59. Q8: 8. 나는 미래에 남한과 북한의 통일이 일어나기 를 원치 않는다. I am opposed to any future unification of North and South Korea. Answered: 200 Skipped: 0
- 60. Conclusion After looking deeply through my collection of secondary sociological data, self-conducted empirical data, and a diverse collection of personal interviews, I remain true to my deepest belief that it is because of a combination of historical differences, and Taiwanese people’s political attitudes toward Mainland China that there is such a sharp contrast in South Korean and Taiwanese people’s opinions toward Japan. History: 2/28, 3.1.1919, economy/education Geopolitics: Reunifications w/PRC/DPRK (33.5% VS 70.5%)
- 61. Further Study Recent political changes How will they affect public opinions toward Japan?