Colonial Modernity in the Popular Culture of the Modern City of Mokpo (Ko, Seok-kyu) : This essay examines colonial modernity in Mokpo in terms of the spatial distinction between the Korean villages and the Japanese villages and consequent cultural di ...
Colonial Modernity in the Popular Culture of the Modern City of Mokpo (Ko, Seok-kyu) : This essay examines colonial modernity in Mokpo in terms of the spatial distinction between the Korean villages and the Japanese villages and consequent cultural differences, and the reconciling role of popular cultural facilities situated between the two confronting villages in the modern city of Mokpo. In Mokpo, Koreans and Japanese had engaged in various social activities including religion, school, physical education, youth activities, and the like, in a clearly different space and environment from each other. Such clear spatial and environmental distinction between the two groups resulted in discrimination between the two, which led to the birth of colonialism. The colonialism of Mokpo can be found in the cultural tension created by the dualistic space and differences between these two spaces. However, popular culture and related facilities introduced in the space between the two played a mediating role in the discriminatory structure of the dualism in the modern city of Mokpo. Popular culture, which was introduced as part of modern civilization, rapidly spread in Mokpo as well as in other cities in Korea around 1930. The major genres of the popular culture at that time included popular songs, films, and modernized dramas (sinpa dramas). Popular facilities such as Mokpo Theater and Pyeonghwa-gwan were established in what could be viewed as a contradictory space between the two conflicting villages. Various popular cultural activities in that space eventually defined the colonial modernity of popular culture in Mokpo through the constant reproduction of popular, or, in other words, modern sentiments.
A Study on the Establishment of Companies and the Economic-Social Movements of Inland Brokers(Gaek-ju, 客主) on Gunsan in the Period of Korean Empire(Kim, Tae-woong):After the compulsory occupation in 1910, Japanese Imperialism enforced the Company Law, the Market Regulation, the Chamber of Commerce Law. Therefore Korean brokers on Gunsan as many Korean brokers on the other regions could not realize the modern company system. But their efforts influenced the national movements on Gusan under the rule of Japanese Imperialism.
The Spatial Organization and the Representation of Modernity in a Korean Open Port(Joo-Kwan Kim):The representation of modernity in Mokpo was made by several means in addition to the well-planned routes, which were the new styles of architectures, the functions of the Japanese district, and the place names. These means made the residents differentiate the city, and recognize the Japanese district as modern.
The Colonial Modernity of Mokpo as Represented in Park Hwa-seong's short stories (Byun Hwa-yeong):The ordinary lives of the people of Mokpo city and adjacent rural areas were depicted realistically based on the real history in her short stories of Japanese colonial rule. Her works are interwoven by the interaction between human beings and the space they lived in during these times and can be evaluated as important cultural material through which we can specifically understand the colonial modernity of Mokpo city and how it relates to the adjacent rural areas.
Mercantile Practice and Conditions in the Mokpo Open Port Market(Bark, Lee-joon):Mokpo merchants of opening port competed and developed between Korean merchants and Japanese merchants in the early of opening port. Their characteristics showed modernity and colonialness at the same time through under the rule of Japanese imperialism.