List of 1,005 Pro-Japan Collaborators Released

The Presidential Committee for the Inspection of Collaboration for Japanese Imperialism yesterday released a list of 1,005 pro-Japan collaborators after finishing a survey lasting four years and six months.

The list has ignited dispute, with the descendents of those on the list protesting.

The committee published a report on “the discovery of truth on pro-Japan and anti-national behavior” at its office in central Seoul yesterday. It named as pro-Japan collaborators the 1,005 people, including 704 who helped the Japanese colonial government from the start of the Sino-Japanese War in 1937 to Korea’s liberation in 1945.

Period 1 had 106 collaborators active between the Russo-Japanese War in 1904 and the 1919 Korean liberation movement who were studied in 2006, and 195 people for the period between 1919 and the Sino-Japanese War in 1937 who were studied in 2007.

The 704 people on the list this time were added to the list of those from period 3. Those not listed due to inadequate information when people in periods 1 and 2 were studied were named.

The list for period 3 includes not only many figures labeled as those who supported Japan and betrayed Korea, but also famous people in education, academia, arts and media. The list includes Bang Eung-mo, editor of the magazine “Cho Kwang”; Baek Nak-joon, principal of Yonhee College; Kim Hwal-ran, president of Ewha Womans University; Park Young-hyo; Choi Nam-sun; Yoo Jin-oh; Catholic bishop Noh Ki-nam; poets Seo Jeong-joo and Yoo Chi-hwan; playwright Yoo Chi-jin; painters Kim Ki-chang and Lee Sang-beom; composer Hyun Je-myong; historian Lee Byeong-do; Korea’s first Army Chief of Staff Lee Eung-joon; and Kim Sung-soo, principal of Bosung College.

Former President Park Chung-hee, Jang Ji-yeon, editor-in-chief of the daily Maeil Shinbo, and former Prime Minister Chang Myun were not included on the list due to lack of materials and pressure from their families. Composer Hong Nan-pa was also excluded at the last minute after a court accepted an injunction sought by his bereaved family.

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