Jang Ji Yeon (1864-1920), long respected as an "anti-Japanese member of the media," is the subject of controversy because of the emergence of evidence he engaged in pro-Japanese activities. Scholars, the media, and civic groups have long expressed doubts about his accomplishments, but recently the Institute for Research in Collaborationist Activities has made public writings of his that serve as evidence. One is a poem in literary Chinese welcoming colonial governor Hasegawa, published December 10, 1916 in the Maeil Sinbo, an official publication of the Japanese colonial government. The other is a piece in the same publication titled "Harmonizing Japan and Korea," written upon the occasion of the meeting of Korea's Sunjong and the Japanese emperor.
Jang has long been considered a model for people in the news media for an opinion piece he wrote lamenting the signing of the Ulsa Treaty with Japan in 1905. The piece has been considered an exemplary essay in the history of the Korean press, and recently the related government ministries have honored him with diverse events after naming him "cultural figure of the month" and later "independence activist of the month." The Jang Ji Yeon Commemorative Association and the Korea Newspaper Foundation give an award named after him and there are other commemorative projects as well.
If it turns out that someone who had led the way in challenging the Japanese later did a complete about-face then those who respected him and those who meet him for the first time in textbooks could find themselves experiencing confusion about their values. The so-called "leaders" who engaged in endless betrayal during the colonial occupation and around the time of Liberation only to later reappear in history in diverse roles are all of the same strand, and that must be remembered. That is why in the process of setting history straight and facing issues of the past there must be thorough evaluation of those who were at the center stage of history. The poor state of Korean records and the inadequate evaluations leads to serious problems for the national spirit and social justice. It would be worth remembering why after the end of World War 2 France placed so much importance on holding members of the press who had served the interests of the Nazis responsible for their actions.
The Hankyoreh, 4 June 2005
[Translations by Seoul Selection (PMS)]
[Editorial] Be Thorough With 'Leaders' From Colonial Era |
