The Spirit of Independence: A Primer of Korean Modernization and Reform

51. Intentions of the Japanese People

51. Intentions of the Japanese People In the preceding pages, [I] have tried to discuss the intentions of the Japanese government on the basis of the views expressed by a political leader of Japan [Itō?]. We have no way of knowing whether the consensus within that government was to help or harm Korea. Actually, we need not be too anxious to know, because even if Japan wishes to harm us—if we manage our affairs well—world public opinion would prevent Japan from harming us. Or, even if the Japanese government or the whole world wishes to help, if we mismanage our affairs there will be no good result. This is the reason why [I] have said that we need not be concerned with what the Japanese government had in mind. What the Japanese people have in mind, however, is a matter of more immediate consequence to us. The Japanese people have advanced knowledge of the history and scholarship of foreign countries; they have also prepared a good foundation for diplomacy, and can easily turn world public opinion around. Moreover, they have strengthened their position in matters of [commercial?] interest so well that, unless we have a strong basis ourselves, we cannot even be compared with them. Their technique is so clever that, without sufficient wisdom, it will be difficult to avoid falling into their trap, from which it will be difficult to climb out once we have fallen. When our naive people come to have close contacts with such people in the future, how many of us would manage to stay free of their influence ? When someone comes close to us, we cannot protect our possessions by avoiding and retreating from them. If we stay too close to them and fall for their trick, however, we will not survive. We may therefore have no choice but to mingle with them. If we hopefully acquire better 243 scholarship and laws than theirs, initiate work before they do, and know in advance what they will do, they will not gain a foothold. After these [preparations] have been completed, [they] can come and stay, and both parties will benefit. The larger the number of these [foreigners], the greater will be the benefit for us. How could there be any loss? It all depends on the wisdom, scholarship, and courage of our people. Otherwise, we will end up losing all of the limitless sources of [commercial] interest. How can we afford not to be more careful? In order to find out what kind of interests the Japanese seek in Korea , we list below the nine items that the Japanese merchants in Pusan presented to the Japanese government and the Japanese minister in Seoul after the signing of the Korean-Japanese treaty, requesting their implementation: 1. The existing treaty of commerce between Korea and Japan should be amended. 2. The right to buy and sell land in Korea in perpetuity should be obtained. 3. Since Japan has the largest commercial interests in Korea, the agents of Korean Customs should be under Japanese jurisdiction. 4. The Korean system of farming should be improved. 5. Foreigners should be permitted to live anywhere in the interior of Korea. 6. In each of the thirteen provinces [of Korea], an average of four or more farm bureaus should be established to promote agriculture and set examples for Korean farmers. 7. The Japanese should not be forbidden from going anywhere along the Korean coast for pleasure or commerce. 8. Many branches of Japanese banks should be established in the interior of Korea. 9. The system of minting in Korea should be overhauled to eliminate any differential in exchanging Korean coins for Japanese coins. To explain briefly the significance of these nine items, Item 1 is proposing a revision of the treaty of commerce. If we had been working hard earlier, we should have already asked our government to revise the passages that were unsatisfactory for [protection of] our nation’s sovereignty . Instead, the Japanese have now taken the initiative in asking for revision. This [request] will bring about gradual impairment of our sovereignty. As for the purchase and sale of Korea’s land in perpetuity, no treaty 244 The Spirit of Independence [that Korea signed] with other countries has ever permitted it. There are at present numerous troublesome cases involving the Japanese buying up the land everywhere. When the government...