Keijo Nippo editors endorsed the People's Republic of Korea and 'class liberation' in Nov. 3, 1945 commemoration of the 1929 Gwangju Student Movement with calls to 'eradicate the remnants of Japanese imperialism and national traitors'

This is an intriguing article from November 5, 1945, originating from Keijo Nippo, which I found at the National Library of Korea during my trip to Seoul in September 2023. Keijo Nippo (Gyeongseong Ilbo) served as the propaganda organ of the Imperial Japanese colonial regime, which exerted its rule over Korea from 1905 until its liberation in August 1945. However, a significant transformation occurred around November 1st, 1945, when Korean nationalists commandeered Keijo Nippo following liberation, and continued its publication in Japanese with an avowed Korean nationalist editorial stance until December 11th, 1945. As the Korean employees of Keijo Nippo explained in their message to the readers, this was a temporary measure, undertaken while Korean typefaces were being prepared for eventual use.

First part of the article, photo taken at the National Library of Korea

Second part of the article, photo taken at the National Library of Korea

This article enthusiastically covers a public event held on November 3rd, 1945, when a broad spectrum of Koreans from various political and civic groups, including Communists, gathered at the Meijiza Theater in the Myeondong District of Seoul to commemorate the anniversary of the 1929 Gwangju Student Independence Movement, which was a major act of resistance against Japanese colonial rule led by students across all of Korea. During the event, a unified pledge was made to support the People's Republic of Korea (not to be confused with the North Korean state of DPRK), eradicate traces of Japanese Imperialism and pro-Japanese 'national traitors', and promote 'class liberation'.

However, the story takes a turn with the U.S. military's subsequent shutdown of the People's Republic of Korea on December 12, 1945. Intriguingly, the last issue of Keijo Nippo was published just a day before, on December 11, 1945. This coincidence begs the question: Did the U.S. military also target Keijo Nippo for its perceived left-wing editorial stance?

The disbanded People's Republic subsequently splintered into various People's Committees, which would later evolve into the modern North Korean state in the North. But in the South, the U.S. military cracked down on these People's Committees in the name of anti-communism, and even went so far as to kill thousands during the Jeju Uprising of 1948.

Alongside these significant articles, Keijo Nippo also included smaller yet telling pieces, like the opening of a new newspaper, the reopening of the Whashin department store, a political party moving its headquarters, and daily updates on the number of Japanese evacuees, which all capture the mood of the Korean post-liberation period.

[Translation]

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo) November 5, 1945

Commemorating the Gwangju Incident: A Day of Unity and Strength for Students

Students Day Solidifies Fervor and Strength

Successful Memorial Ceremony and Lecture

On November 3rd, seventeen years ago from this day, students in Gwangju raised their voices against Imperial Japan, fighting for the freedom of their campus and academic research. This memorial day commemorates their struggle, marked by the blood and fervor of these organized young men and women. Today, with the promised liberation and independence of Korea, the first commemoration of "Students Day" was held with vows to put in their maximum effort. The Gwangju Student Incident Commemoration Struggle Committee, organized by the Korean Student Corps, the Korean Student Soldier Alliance, representatives of Seoul youth organizations (26 groups participating), the Communist Youth Alliance, the Education Reform Alliance, the Nation-Building Alliance, the Nation-Building Women's Alliance [Note: Park Sun-cheon was its vice-chairwoman], and the Gyeongseong Youth Labor Department, held a memorial lecture at Meijiza Theater at 9 a.m. Young men and women from participating groups filled the hall, and the event progressed with youthful energy and strength.

The Gwangju Student Movement was started by students who truly loved this country, and now, in liberated Korea, it is imperative for all citizens to absolutely support the People's Republic of Korea and to strive for the complete construction of a sovereign state. The urgent task is to eradicate the remnants of Japanese imperialism and national traitors. That was our conclusion of the day. Following speeches of encouragement and support from representatives of various sectors and social strata, the meeting wrapped up by sending the following message to the students of Gwangju, where the movement originated, and successfully concluded amid three enthusiastic cheers of 'Long live the People's Republic!'

[Message]

Representing the will of the youth and student masses, we look back on the historical and social significance of the Gwangju Student Incident that caused a significant social impact and aroused world opinion. We express our heartfelt gratitude to the fighters who were directly or indirectly victimized by the brutal repression of Japanese imperialism. We pay our utmost respect to the brave struggle and the revolutionary youth and student masses who rose up throughout Korea as a result of this incident. Today, having attained freedom and liberation, we take it upon ourselves to rightfully address the political reality where various parties and factions are in a state of disorderly entanglement. It is the culmination of our sincere efforts to develop the youth and student movement in its true and rightful direction. We pledge to actively fight for the complete independence and class liberation of a new Korea, with proper theory and indomitable courage, in response to the youth and student masses developing a heroic plan at the site of the incident.

We are confident that our efforts and courage will contribute to new developments and improvements, not yielding to any adverse conditions, and making use of our valuable past experiences. We sincerely hope that this unanimous will and confidence of the youth and student masses will be widely organized among the general national masses, ensuring the heroic achievements of complete independence and class liberation.

November 3, 1945

Gwangju Student Incident Memorial Planning Committee

Kukmin Sinmun Launch (Bi-Daily)

The Kukmin Sinmun is a newly launched newspaper, primarily targeting Christian believers, and will be published bi-daily with its headquarters at 133 Insa-dong in the city.

Korean Democratic Party Headquarters Relocation

On November 2nd, the Korean Democratic Party moved its headquarters from the Korean Smelting Building on Taihei Road [present-day Sejong Road] to the former Dong-A Ilbo building on Gwanghwamun Road.

Whashin Department Store Reopening

Whashin Department Store, which had been closed since August 15, smoothly reached a compromise after mediation by the Military Government's Labor-Management Mediation Committee. It was scheduled to reopen on November 3, but was postponed for a couple of days due to circumstances.

Total Number of Japanese Repatriating: 246,000

On October 31, 2,683 Japanese military personnel and 10,637 Japanese civilians were evacuated, and 3,289 Koreans returned home on the same day. The total number by that date was 222,134 Japanese military personnel and 114,873 Japanese civilians who have been evacuated, and 191,011 Koreans who have returned.

[Note: I usually translate 京城 (Keijo in Japanese, Gyeongseong in Korean), the colonial era name for Korea's capital city, as Seoul in these articles, but from September 1945 onwards, the Keijo Nippo editors start referring to their city as Seoul (ソウル) in Katakana letters, but they still occasionally refer to their city as Keijo, so in this article, I will use both Seoul and Gyeongseong to refer to the same city, depending on which word is used.]

[Transcription]

京城日報 1945年11月5日

光州事件を偲び

熱と力を固めた学生日

記念式と講演会盛況

十一月三日この日今から十七年前、光州学生が日本帝国に反旗をひるがえし、学園の自由と学問研究の自由を叫んで反抗した。組織的なこの国青春男女の血と熱誠で闘争した記念日である。朝鮮の解放と自主独立が約束された今日にあって、一擲の力となろうと誓った『学生日』の第一回記念式であるこの日、朝鮮学生隊、朝鮮学兵同盟、ソウル青年団体代表者（二十六団体加入）、共産青年同盟、教育革新同盟、建国同盟、建国婦女同盟、京城出労青年部で組織された光州学生事件記念闘争委員会では、この日の記念事業として明治座で光州学生事件記念講演会を午前九時に開き参加諸団体の若き男女は堂に満ち、会は青春の熱と力とで盛裡に進行した。

光州学生事件も真心からこの国を愛する衷情から出発した学徒の事業であったし、解放された今日にあっては我ら全国民が樹立した人民の政府たる朝鮮人民共和国を絶対支持し、完全国家建設に邁進せねばならぬとしてその第一事業としては未だ残っている日本帝国主義の残滓と民族反逆者を掃蕩するのが急務であると、これがこの日の結論であった。そして各界各層の蹶起挨拶も此の壮業を支援した会は遂に光州学生事件発祥地である光州学生に送る次のようなメッセージを送り、人民共和国万歳三唱、盛況裡に解散した。

【メッセージ】青年及び学生大衆の意志を代表して我々は社会的に大きな衝動を与え、世界的に世論を喚起した光州学生事件の歴史的、社会的意義を回顧すると同時に、当時日本帝国主義の横暴な弾圧によって直接間接に犠牲となった闘士等に衷心から謝意を表す。この勇敢な闘争とこれを契機として全鮮的に蜂起された革命的青年と学徒大衆に最大の敬意を表する。自由と解放を獲得した今日、各党各派が無秩序に乱麻している政治的現実を正当に担当するを以て青年及び学生運動の真正な方向へ発展するよう我等の真摯な努力の結晶であり、事件発端地で英雄的計画を展開している青年及び学徒大衆と呼応して正当な理論と不屈な勇気とで新しき朝鮮の完全独立と階級解放を期して積極的に闘うことを約束するものである。

我等の努力と勇気は如何なる悪条件にも屈せず過去の貴重な経歴を生かし、新しき発展と向上に貢献することを確信するところである。青年学生大衆のこの総意と確信が一般民族大衆と広く組織され、完全なる独立と階級解放の英雄的成果を保障せんことを真心から願うものである。

一九四五年十一月三日

光州学生事件記念計画委員会

国民新聞発刊（隔日刊）

国民新聞が新しく出る。市内仁寺町一三三番地に本社を置いて先ず隔日刊されるが、基督教信者を主に相手している。

韓民党本部移転

韓国民主党は去る二日、太平通り朝鮮製錬ビルから光化門通り前東亜日報社屋に同党本部を移転した。

和信開店

八月十五日以後閉店していた和信は軍政庁労資調停委員会の斡旋で曲折も円満に妥協点に到達。再開店することとなり、十一月三日より開店の予定であった處、事情に依り二、三延期された。

撤退日人総計二十四万六千

十月三十一日：日本軍人2683名、日本一般人10637名が撤去し、同日朝鮮人3289名が帰国した。同日までの総計は日人軍人222134名、一般日本人114873名が撤退、朝鮮人191011名が帰った。