History of Korea

This period marked a sinificant change in Japan's policy towards its colonies. In Korea, the relative freedom of the past decade during the cultural policy, was beginning to change. Japan needed the active support of all the Korean people, rather than the indirect support of the elite and the indifference of the majority of the population. As Japan began to expand its imperial empire, it required the active support of the majority of the Korean population for Japan's economic and military plans. The Governor-Generals of the time, Ugaki Kazushige (July 1931-August 1936) and Minami Jiro (August 1936-1942) maked anage of strong rule in Korea. These two Governors of the colony would impliment policies which directly contributed to the deterioration of the Korea culture and national identity. The result was a forced assimilation of the Koreans into the Japanese society. It was not until the end of the Second World War in 1945, that Korea was finally liberated from Japanese colonial rule.