History of Korea

Saito as Governor-General

Saito strove to change the public opinion of the Koreans about the Japanese. He issued permits for newspapers and allowed a more lenient policy in regards to publications:

-Tonga Ilbo (East Asia Daily News)
-Choson Ilbo (Korea Daily News)

Moreover, hundreds of popular magazines and political publications sprouted during this period.

The new cultural policy which gave access for Koreans to various avenues of participation in groups and popular discussions also called for a more specialized and efficient police system. Behind the curtain of leniency, Saito strove hard to construct a political organ which could deal with the more liberal atmosphere of the post March First Movement. Indeed, one of Saito's goals was to prevent another such incident, and if it did occur, to hinder its influence. The High Police (Koto Keisatsu) which came into being as a result of these ambitions, became the chief mechanism in controlling censorship and overseeing the general harmony which had been established.

Colonial Period