Korean women during the years of Japanese colonial rule (1910-1945)

In recent years, the issue of the status of women in South Korea has been so acute that even special institutions have been created to protect women's rights. However, this problem is far from new for Korea, and its origins date back more than a hundred years ago. Many South Korean researchers note that the annexation of Korea by Japan and the establishment of the colonial regime served as an incentive to change the role of women in society. During the 35 years of Japanese colonial rule in Korea, the phenomenon of female employment emerged, and the so-called «new women» also emerged as a social phenomenon. The «new women» in their self-awareness were closer to European women, which was unique for Korea, which was isolated and had limited contact with the outside world. In a short time, they set a lot of popular trends and in many ways laid the foundation for the further development of feminism in the country. Korean researchers note that the emergence of «new women» actually meant the beginning of a new era for the country, and some consider them a symbol of the success of Japanese colonization. By analyzing the works of modern South Korean historians, the authors of the article sought to show some of the reasons and prerequisites for the transformation of the position of women in Korea. As a result of the study, the authors concluded that the colonial period significantly influenced the change in the type of employment for Korean women. The process of their gradual transition from work mainly at home to work in various industries, trade and services began, which led to the emergence of an ever-growing category of «new women» in the cities of Korea.

Korea, colonial period, feminism, «new women»