전시기 경성호국신사의 건립과 전몰자 위령･현창

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the process of turning Koreans into the Japanese imperial subjects or the imperialization of Koreans, in the aspect of public mobilization. To this end, the study focused on public mobilization and the commemoration and recognition of the fallen solders in Gyeonseong Hoguk Sinsa (Shrine). Amid the extension of the Second Sino-Japan War, the Japanese empire changed its colonial policy in Korea. It proclaimed the Army Special Volunteers Act on February 22, 1938 in Korea - which was not subject to its conscription system - and introduced the Korean Army Special Volunteer Troop System on April 3. Then, three months later, the National Spiritual Mobilization Movement was initiated in July 1938, about one year after the movement had been introduced in the mainland Japan. Yet, it was not easy to cultivate the movement’s “Japanese spirits” as the national spirit among Koreans with different historical and traditional background. For this reason, the Japanese Government General of Korea emphasized the necessity of establishing hoguk shrines in a way to assimilate Koreans and ensure the unity of Japan and Korea, establishing a hoguk shrine both in Gyeongseong (Seoul) and Nanam, a town in North Hamgyeong Province. The establishment of Gyeongseong Hoguk Sinsa and military aids related to the shrine were aggressively promoted in the form of public mobilization linked with the unity of Japan and Korea, and the imperialization of Koreans in accordance with the mainland Japan’s Gokoku Shrine System. The main purpose of establishing hoguk shrines in Korea was to deal with Korean war dead resulting from the introduction of the Korean Army Special Volunteer Troop System and to make Koreans into royal imperial subjects or promote the imperialization of Koreans. The establishment of Gyeongseong Hoguk Sinsa was promoted on the basis of donations and labor service through the mobilization of Koreans, especially middle and high school students. The shrine served as a place for the unity of Japan and Korea which cultivated the spirit of serving the country royally among Koreans as well as for the commemoration and recognition of the souls of all the fallen heros who died for the country. This suggests that Gyeongseong Hoguk Sinsa promoted the imperialization of Koreans through public mobilization by the mediums of the commemoration and recognition of the fallen solders, uplift of the fighting spirit and the fallen soldiers of Korea.