Korean rice farmers barely survived eating grass roots as they worked tirelessly to meet the rice quotas imposed by the Imperial Army in 1944, even sacrificing their own personal rice supplies to face starvation under pressure from the police inspector and the township chief

This disturbing propaganda news story from 1944 is about a rice farming township (Seonso-myeon) in Suncheon County, South Pyeongan Province in what is now North Korea, which was supposedly so grateful to their police inspector for being compassionate and not scolding or beating them, that they were inspired to not only offer up all the rice they had kept to feed themselves for the year, but also sacrifice their own lives for the police inspector. The rice farmers had just worked through incredible hardship, even eating roots to barely survive, but they still came short of the rice quota that the Imperial Army had imposed on them, which is why they had to give up their own personal supplies of rice so that they could meet the quota, even if it meant that they could starve to death in the process. 

Patriotic Korean military grandma Tanzan Kōzō

This article provides a glimpse into the cruel colonial power structure that led to the oppressive exploitation and even possible starvation and genocide of Korean farmers under Imperial Japanese rule. Apparently, the county police chiefs were responsible for delivering the rice quotas that were imposed by the Imperial Army. The county police chief would direct the police inspector to pressure the local township leader, or myeon chief, to make sure that the rice farmers worked hard enough to meet the Imperial Army's rice quotas. The myeon chief was typically a Korean collaborator from the township who was installed into this position by the colonial government. Similar food procuring operations were conducted by the Imperial Japanese military all across occupied areas during World War II to deadly effect. For example, Vietnam experienced a famine in 1944-1945.

The Korean Federation of National Power (国民総力朝鮮連盟, 국민총력조선연맹), which sent the news dispatch team which wrote this news story, was the single ruling party of Japan-colonized Korea. The propaganda purpose of their article was probably to inspire readers with the hard work ethic displayed by the Korean rice farmers, and to encourage other Korean farmers to work just as hard as the rice farmers of Seonso-myeon to provide food supplies to the Imperial Army, even if it meant putting themselves at the brink of starvation. The article was also a way of rewarding the police chief and police inspector for squeezing the demanded rice quota out of the rice farmers. They added some personal anecdotes about missing a mother's funeral and dealing with a sick baby to humanize the police chief.  

See also the similar 1943 story of rice farmer Kim Chi-gu and his sons, who vowed to donate about 150,000 kg of rice to the Imperial Army over ten years.

Another propaganda story features a Korean 'military grandma' whose son died serving in the Imperial Army. She allegedly transcribed the Japanese national anthem, 'Kimigayo', and the Imperial Subjects' Oath into Korean and recited them day and night in an effort to be a better Imperial subject. 

The Imperial Subjects' Oath (皇国臣民ノ誓詞), which the 'military grandma' transcribed into Hangul and recited day and night, was promulgated throughout Korea on October 2, 1937. It was actually drafted by a Korean collaborator named Lee Gag-jong (李覺鐘), and then finalized by then Governor of occupied Korea, Minami Jirō. The oath is as follows. 

• 私共は、大日本帝国の臣民であります。
• 私共は、心を合わせて天皇陛下に忠義を尽します。
• 私共は、忍苦鍛錬して立派な強い国民となります。
• 我等は皇国臣民なり、忠誠以て君国に報ぜん。
• 我等皇国臣民は互に信愛協力し、以て団結を固くせん。
• 我等皇国臣民は忍苦鍛錬力を養い以て皇道を宣揚せん。
• We are subjects of the Great Empire of Japan.
• We are united in our hearts in our loyalty to His Majesty the Emperor.
• We will persevere and train ourselves to become a fine and strong people.
• We are subjects of the Imperial State, and we will repay the sovereign nation with loyalty.
• We, the subjects of the Imperial State, shall love and cooperate with each other, and thus solidify our unity.
• We, the subjects of the Imperial State, shall cultivate the power of endurance and discipline, and thereby proclaim the Imperial Way.

[Translation]

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo) March 16, 1944

Righteousness and Tears Behind the Rice Contribution

A Military Grandma, a Devoted Imperial Subject, Offers Up Her Beloved Child

A Beautiful Story Found in a Farming Village

By Special Correspondent Kiyohara

As a member of the special news dispatch team sent by the Korean Federation of National Power, I participated in the "Total National Mobilization Rally to Destroy the U.S. and Britain" from February 22, starting in Gando Township (myeon) (간동면, 看東面), Junghwa County, South Pyeongan Province, and continued for about two weeks in one town (eup) and six townships. During this time, I sought to understand the genuine spirit of how the farming villages were living and fighting. In my spare moments, I visited the farmers, rich with the fragrance of the earth, and heard stories of righteousness and tears from a police chief, and moving stories such as that of a military mother who offered her beloved child to the Imperial Nation. Here, I will recount my report.

One day in Seonso Township (선소면, 仙沼面), Suncheon County, South Pyeongan Province: Through the deep snow, or along the cold windswept mountain roads and fields, they continued to carry the heavy rice sacks loaded on carts, chanting “Essah, Essah!” From spring to summer, and from summer to fall, they overcame the shortage of fertilizer and battled against nature. The sweat they shed was crystallized into rice, nurtured by the land that they were entrusted with by the Emperor. It was this rice that became food for the soldiers and sustenance for the warriors of increased production. This is why they joyfully and proudly contributed it.

On the day of contribution, not even half the scheduled amount of rice had been delivered. Surprised, the township chief went to consult with Inspector Izumi at the local police station. The inspector, with a strong sense of responsibility, said, "The brave soldiers of the Imperial Army on the front lines are enduring battles for three or four days on just pickled plums. It is truly regrettable that the assigned quantity of rice cannot be delivered. This is shameful to our nation."

However, he added, "But we cannot force the farmers to provide more rice. The farmers are working with all their might, demonstrating their utmost sincerity. I have heard that during last spring's period of hardship, some people even ate roots to survive. They too must be suffering greatly."

The township chief, determined to request the farmers' cooperation once again, went to the meeting hall where they had gathered. Stirred by a fiery and burning fighting spirit surging through his entire body, he reported Inspector Izumi's heartfelt concern for the people of the township. He pleaded, "I am not asking you to force yourselves to contribute. But is this truly enough? Can we disregard the inspector’s tears?"

Moved by these words, a bearded farmer, with both cheeks flushed with emotion, cried out, "Everyone, until now, we have only thought of policemen as those who scold and beat us. Never in our wildest dreams did we think there was someone who would think so deeply and seriously about the plight of the farmers. For this inspector, we should not only offer rice, but also be willing to give our very lives!"

All of the township residents in attendance agreed, entrusting the responsibility of the contribution to the righteous and compassionate inspector and township chief. Fueled by a spirit of die-hard loyalty to the nation, they loaded their carts with the rice they had kept to feed themselves for the year. Fathers pulled, sons pushed, and some came from four ri (about 16 km) away, while others braved the frigid wind on slopes with a 45-degree incline. They heard the cries of pheasants in the distance as they continued to carry the rice late into the night, each one shouting, "Me too! Me too!"

By the time the night was over, rice sacks had been piled high in front of the township office. Nearly the entire scheduled amount had been delivered in a single day, and they had proudly fulfilled their responsibility to contribute.

Behind the leadership of the admirable Inspector Izumi stands another figure of selfless devotion: Police Chief Tatsuichi Hiramatsu of the Suncheon Police Station.

Last winter, a telegram arrived at Chief Hiramatsu's desk with the message, "Mother critically ill, return at once." The chief, known for his particularly strong filial piety, was ready to rush to his ailing mother's side. However, he thought to himself, "We are in a decisive battle. Public duties cannot be neglected, not for a single day, not even for an hour. The greater duty overrides one's personal obligations." With this thought, he bit his lip and threw his body and soul into his official duties, standing firm in the face of the enemy. A week later, another telegram arrived, bearing the message, "Mother has passed away."

The chief sat in silent meditation for a while, then clasped his hands together in prayer toward his hometown. After wiring money to cover his mother’s funeral expenses, he returned to his work with the same dedication as before, moving his fellow officers deeply.

When the reporter visited as part of the special news dispatch team, Chief Hiramatsu's beloved infant was suffering from a high fever of 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit). Yet, he refused to neglect the crucial duties of the "Total National Mobilization Rally" for personal matters. Entrusting the care of his child to his loving wife, he left his home. Despite suffering from frostbite, which made walking difficult, he accompanied the reporter on foot for a round trip of five ri (about 20 km) along the mountainous path within the town (eup) to Bukchang Township (북창면, 北倉面), fulfilling his duties. This fervent devotion to his work, even at the cost of personal sacrifice, has become a silent yet powerful lesson for all the station's officers.

◇

In Gando Township, Junghwa County, South Pyeongan Province, there is a remarkable woman who offered up her beloved son as a shield for the nation, and she studies the national anthem "Kimigayo" and the Imperial Subjects' Oath by writing them in the Korean alphabet (Hangul).

Tanzan Kōzō (aged 57), from 87-Jiseok-ri (지석리, 支石里), Gando Township, Junghwa County, South Pyeongan Province, is the mother of four sons. One of them, Shōgorō (aged 26), bravely set off last September as an army civilian employee headed for the South Pacific. Two months later, he returned home in silence, having made the ultimate sacrifice. However, despite her son's tragic return, she never showed the slightest hint of sorrow or a dark expression to those who visited her. Instead, she would say, "He perished soon after setting off, without the chance to plant the Hinomaru Japanese flag in enemy territory. I worry that he may have died from illness on the ship. That is my only concern, and I feel terribly sorry toward His Majesty for that."

Believing that the first and foremost duty of the 25 million Korean compatriots, as Imperial subjects, is to cultivate their spirits, she has transcribed "Kimigayo" and the Imperial Subjects' Oath into Hangul and recites them day and night. Although she only knows Hangul and is unfamiliar with the Japanese language or its characters, her passionate patriotism has moved many. Her example inspired a surge in volunteer applications for military service, overwhelming those from other townships.

Photo: Mrs. Tanzan Kōzō

[Transcription]

京城日報 1944年3月16日

供出の蔭に義と涙

愛児捧げ、皇民一筋の軍国ばあさん

農村に拾う美わしき挿話

【清原本社特派員記】国民総力朝鮮聯盟派遣の報道特別挺身隊員として二月二十二日から平南中和郡看東面を皮切りに約二週間に亘り一邑六面の米英撃滅国民総蹶起大会に参加した。そして農村は如何に生き如何に戦っているが、そのいつわらぬ姿を求めようとひまを見つけては土の香り高い農民を温突に訪れ、義と涙の巡査部長や愛児を皇国に捧げた軍国の母の佳話などを耳にした。その報告記をここに綴ろう。

雪深い或は寒風の唸る山道や野原をどっしりと重い米俵を荷車に満載してエッサエッサと運びつづける春から夏、夏から秋にかけ肥料不足を克服し、自然と闘って得た汗の結晶も大君からお預かりしている大地が育みそだてたお米と思えばこそ、兵糧になり、増産戦士の糧になると思えばこそ喜びと誇りをもっての供出なのだ。平南順川郡仙沼面でのある一日である。

供出日というのに運ばれた米は予定数量の半分にもならない。驚いた面長はどうしたものかと駐在所の泉巡査部長を尋ねた。巡査部長は、「第一線の皇軍勇士は梅干しで三日も四日も戦をしのいでいるというのに、割り当てられた数量の供出が出来ないとは全くなげかわしい。これでは、お国に申し訳ない」と強い責任観念の一端をひらめかし、「だが農民にもっともっと米を出せと強いるわけにはゆかない。百姓も力一杯働き力一杯赤誠を示しているのだ。去年の春窮期には草の根を食糧にした者もあったそうだ。彼等もさぞ苦しいだろう」

面長は今一度農民に協力を要望して見ようと農民の集っている集会場に足を運び、鉄火と燃える闘魂を五体に沸らして泉部長の面民を思う真情を報告し、「無理に供出せよとはいわぬ。しかしこれでよいか。部長の涙をそのまま無にしてもよかろうか」と訴えると髭面の一百姓が感激に両頬を紅潮させて、「皆の衆、我々は今まで警察官とは叱りつけ、なぐりつける人とばかり思っていたが、百姓のことをそんなに真剣に深く考えてくれる方がおるとは夢にも思わなかった。この部長なら米は愚か命までも捧げようではないか」と叫び全面民はこれに賛成し供出後のことは義と涙の部長、面長に一任し、一年間の糧となる自家保有米を殉国の一念に燃えて車に満載し、父は引き息子は押して或者は四里も遠くから、或者は四十五度位の傾斜の峠を寒風に乗って聞こえる雉の泣き声を耳にしながら深夜まで”我も我も”と持ち運び面事務所の前には米俵が山と積まれ一日で予定数量に殆ど近い数字を示し供出の責任を立派に果たした。

このよき指導者泉部長の蔭にはこれまた滅私奉公の署長がおる。順川警察暑平松辰一署長である。この署長の机に『ハハキトク、スグカヘレ』の電報がどとけられたのは昨冬のことである。人一倍孝行心の強い所長は今にも病母の膝元へ駈けつけたが”決戦下だ。公務は一日も否一時間も休めない。大義親を滅すというではないか”と唇を噛んで敵前執務に身も魂も打ち込んだが、それから一週間後には『ハハシス』との電報が入った。しばらく瞑想していた署長は故郷に向かって合掌ののち母の葬儀費を電送したのち、またも従前通り働き署員を感激せしめた。

記者が報道挺身隊として訪れたときも、可愛い赤ん坊が四十度の高熱でうなっていたが国民総蹶起大会という大事な仕事を私事で怠ってはと後事を愛妻に託して家を後にし而も足が凍傷で歩きにくいのにも拘わらず、邑内から北倉面まで片道二里半の山道を記者とともに徒歩で往復し任務を果たした。この職務に殉せんとの熱意が全署員に無言の教訓を垂れているのである。

◇

平南中和郡看東面には愛息の醜の御楯と捧げ自分は国歌『君が代』や皇国臣民の誓詞を朝鮮諺文で書いて勉強する奇篤なおばさんがおる。平南中和郡看東面支石里八七丹山光三さん（五七）は四男まで設けたが、その中、祥五郎君（二六）が陸軍軍属として昨夏九月に南海に向けて勇躍出発。それから二ヶ月後に無言の凱旋をしたが、訪れる者に対しては暗い顔色は微塵も見せず返って『あれが征ってから間もなく散華したので、日の丸を敵陣に立てることも出来ず、途中船で病死したのではないかと只それが心配だし、且つ大君に申し訳ないと思っています』と答えそれから二千五万同胞が皇国臣民として重責を完うするにはまず魂の錬成が肝要だと『君が代』や皇国臣民の誓詞を諺文で表音して日夜唱えている。国語は勿論文字とても諺文しか知らないおばさんの愛国の熱情に感動し志願兵の応募数も他面を断然圧倒したという。

【写真＝丹山光三さん】

Source: https://archive.org/details/kjnp-1944-03-16/page/n1/mode/1up

Imperial Japan’s railway system in Korea was falling apart by early August 1945 with severe overcrowding, parts and labor shortages, exhausted staff causing more accidents, train conductors gone rogue …

This article offers a fascinating glimpse into the decrepit state of the streetcar system in Seoul at the beginning of August 1945, a mere two weeks or so before the end of World War II and the liberation of Korea from Imperial Japanese colonial rule.

Original caption: Executive Maehara guiding workers on-site

Three years of war apparently took a terrible toll on the city's streetcar infrastructure, with shortages of everything from labor to materials, and repair backlogs increasing. Even in the best of times, the streetcar system was already struggling with crowding, as shown in these newspaper photos from November 28, 1939:

Fewer operational streetcars meant even more overcrowding, which was exacerbated by passengers who brought oversized luggage on board, often stuffed with scarce food supplies brought in from the countryside. Fewer staff also meant overworked staff who were exhausted and more prone to mistakes, which led to more accidents. Similar scenes were likely playing out elsewhere in Imperial Japan in both the wartime and immediate postwar periods.

The colonial reporter interviewed two people for this piece: one was President Hozumi of Seoul Electric Railway, and the other was Chief Conductor Maehara whom the reporter accompanied on a field trip to at least three of the train stations along a short stretch of what is now Line 2 of Seoul Metro: Kōgane Station (present-day Euljiro-1-ga), Eiraku Station (present-day Euljiro-3-ga), and Kōgane 4-Chōme Station (present-day Euljiro-4-ga). Maehara and the reporter witnessed the serious overcrowding and dysfunctional train operations first hand, such as train clumping and 'tandem trains' (a larger car pulling a smaller one). The interviewees were surprisingly frank and open about the ongoing problems, acknowledging room for improvement. As a propaganda news feature, colonial authorities may have published these interviews to address mounting public anger over worsening train services.

Maehara directed special criticism at rogue train conductors who were responsible for the phenomenon of trains pretending to be broken ('moving broken cars'), trains speeding away even though there is still space for more passengers ('jump trains'), trains that ignore waiting passengers at stops ('slipping trains'), and trains running without clear destinations ('black trains'), which he attributed to lack of adequate crew education. Perhaps some of these 'black trains' were commandeered by anti-regime elements, like Korean nationalists and revolutionaries.

This article uses one Korean word, "回車 (회차)", which means "a train reversing direction at the end of its route and heading back in the opposite direction". The corresponding Japanese word would be 折り返し列車. In fact, the word 回車 does not appear in any online Japanese dictionary, not even in the Weblio dictionary which usually includes words used during this period. Did the variety of Japanese spoken in Korea at the time include this word as a special loanword, or did a Korean writer accidentally or intentionally slip it into this article? In the two years of reading Keijo Nippo, this is arguably the first word I have ever encountered in the pages of the newspaper where I had to consult a Korean dictionary to confirm its definition.

I marked and labeled the train stations mentioned in this article along with some additional landmarks in the following illustrated 1929 map, which can be found at this history website. This map is a panoramic view of Seoul (then called Keijō in Japanese) as viewed in the northeast direction.

[Translation]

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo) August 3, 1945

Trains, Run Smoothly! 

President Hozumi Discusses Alleviating Congestion 

Struggling with Repairs

Just when you think a train has finally arrived, you are caught in a crush of people, a scene of chaos and agony—it is truly a transportation hell. The issue of transportation is a source of distress for the people of Seoul. Is there any measure that can alleviate the congestion? This question, along with another concern, was brought to the headquarters of the Seoul Electric Railway Company, leading to a conversation with President Hozumi about running the trains.

The Wish to Eliminate Faulty Cars

Q: What is the fundamental cause of the transportation congestion?
A: In the past, we prided ourselves on operating 95% of all vehicles. Now, however, we cannot keep up with repairs. We lack enough cars, and we cannot procure motors. We are forcing trains to run in tandem (a larger car pulling a smaller one), but this strain is causing even more breakdowns. The rate of absenteeism among crew members is also increasing.

Q: While the material shortages are understandable, could not congestion be alleviated somewhat by having technical school students help out with repairs and by reinforcing labor management?
A: Well, is that something only the electric company can do? Recently, due to the rain, the number of faulty cars has increased. Of course, repairs are essential, and we must also consider the job security of the crew members. Support from relevant government agencies for food supplies and materials is necessary, and raising public awareness of transportation etiquette is also part of the solution.

Q: What about reducing unnecessary passengers?
A: Recently, there has been a noticeable increase in people going out to buy food. They bring large loads, which contributes to the congestion. But then, what qualifies as a truly necessary passenger? People going out to buy food are doing so to survive, so you cannot exactly say their trips are unnecessary. We need to be more thoughtful about car assignments.

Q: It seems accidents have been on the rise as well.
A: In general, people are paying less attention. This applies to the crew as well. I am deeply concerned about this. But when I look at the current situation, it seems like a competition between inconsiderate people. Seoul Electric runs the trains, but there are other institutions responsible for public transportation training and etiquette. I think it is necessary to retrain the drivers.

Q: Does Seoul Electric have any decisive measures to alleviate congestion?
A: Listen, when there is little food, people fight. The same applies to transportation—if we had enough cars, there would be no problem. For that, we need to gather more hands for repairs. If we can do that, restoring the system to its former state is not impossible.

Dull Train Operations

Chief Conductor Maehara brainstorms solutions

In terms of life in the city center, both moral integrity and clarity are swayed when the charm of smooth train operations is significantly disturbed. We accompanied a senior official from the Seoul Electric Railway Company as he took command on the front lines, observing the real situation on the ground.

"Don't push, you will get crushed! What are you saying? Don't dawdle!"

At the peak of rush hour, around 5 PM, near the entrance of Kōgane Station (present-day Euljiro-1-ga), a middle-aged, distinguished conductor was hard at work directing passengers, urging, "Please move in an orderly manner, there is still room, so please move inside." This dedicated conductor is none other than Mr. Maehara, a senior executive of Seoul Electric. At the request of the reporter, he kindly agreed to discuss the congestion issue on the spot.

"How can we squeeze in like this? People are not cargo!" a loud voice of anger came from the crowd, and Maehara, with a wry smile, slightly lowered his head.

Reporter: "Do you often ride the trains yourself?"
Maehara: "Of course, I am on the trains practically every third day."

After some light banter, the reporter and Maehara continued their conversation on the crowded train.

Reporter: "Is there no way to alleviate this congestion? Recently, I heard about a passenger who broke two ribs and had to be hospitalized."
Maehara: "It is embarrassing for the company that we are unable to adequately serve the needs of wartime transportation. Above all, we simply do not have enough trains. Compared to the end of last year, we have reduced the number of cars by an additional 30%. On top of that, 25% of the cars that leave the depot each day return due to breakdowns."

Reporter: "Is there no way to strengthen your repair capabilities?"
Maehara: "We lack enough workers."

Reporter: "You cannot just leave it at that, can you?"
Maehara: "Of course, the trains are just as important as weapons, and we are striving to train and recruit workers. We are waiting for the implementation of new regulations that will stabilize the conditions for our employees, but I regret that the authorities are slow in taking action."

Reporter: "Given the extreme reduction in the number of trains, isn't it vital for the company to implement bold new ideas for introducing new train management technologies?"
Maehara: "We are considering it, but it is difficult."

At Eiraku Station (present-day Euljiro-3-ga), many passengers got off, and a good number of waiting passengers were able to board. Maehara was closely examining intersection technologies.

Reporter: "For example, cars converge on this line from both the Namdaemun and Seodaemun platforms, so if people walk to this point, it should be easier to board. If the two platforms at the Kōgane Station entrance were consolidated on the Kōgane line side, the train utilization rate would increase significantly, don’t you think?"
Maehara: "We would not know for sure without precise calculations. It is a complex problem involving advanced mathematical 'combinations.' Moreover, the stop-and-go signals are controlled by entirely separate entities, which complicates matters."

Reporter: "Have you tried calculating it precisely?"
Maehara: "We have not. But breaking the usual norms of train operations may indeed be essential."

We disembarked at Kōgane 4-Chōme Station (present-day Euljiro-4-ga). There we saw a line of ten "tandem trains" (a larger car pulling a smaller one). Maehara, embarrassed, remarked, "Well, here comes another tandem." When we asked the cause at the front of the line, we learned it was a motor failure.

Maehara: "It is generally the same things: motor failures, brake issues, ball bearings, or circuit breakers causing what we call 'clumped operations'—and this greatly inconveniences passengers. Many of the faults cannot be repaired on-site."

Reporter: "How many 'clumps' occur each day?"
Maehara: "I do not know. We do not receive reports on each one."

Reporter: "Is there no enthusiasm for gathering data on such issues?"
Maehara: "Handling clumps while trains are in operation is a longstanding problem that the railway society has been studying, but with breakdowns happening so frequently, we must indeed put more effort into it. We would like to draw on the wisdom of scientists in the city. Seoul Electric is also studying this issue, but there are already more than ten different causes of clumping alone."

As an experiment, we tried recording the [westbound] passing trains headed for Kōgane Station and the [eastbound] passing trains bound for 6-chōme (present-day Dongdaemun History and Culture Park Station). From 6:51 PM, we observed the following departures:

• 6:51 PM, train headed for Kōgane Station
• 7:00 PM, train headed for Kōgane Station
• 7:16 PM, train headed for Kōgane Station
• 7:17 PM, train headed for Kōgane Station
• 7:20 PM, train headed for Kōgane Station
• 7:25 PM, train headed for Kōgane Station

It was not until 30 minutes later that a Wangsimni-bound train finally arrived. It was a small train, with passengers spilling out from both entrances. The train slowly came to a stop, packed so dangerously that it was unbearable to watch. Following that, two Wangsimni-bound trains arrived, and ironically, the third one was nearly empty. For a line that transports 90,000 commuters a day, the operation of the Wangsimni line was nothing short of terribly inefficient, a 'skewer dumpling' style of operation.

Reporter: "What about adjusting train destinations at key points to better manage flow?"
Maehara: "Passengers are uncooperative, and changing the destination in the middle of a route only causes more confusion."

Reporter: "If leaving the task of managing the confusion to lower-level employees results in further disorder, then it would be better to assign staff at key points. The real issue is breaking away from outdated concepts of train operation. It seems we are too bound by conventional practices."

At the train station in Donam-dong there was still a massive crowd of about 400 people waiting. At its peak, the crowd can reach 600. At Jongno 4-Chōme (present-day Jongno 4-ga), another large crowd was waiting. The route, which carries 80,000 daily commuters with only eight cars, was managed relatively smoothly, but the Kōgane Line saw passenger surges that drastically reduced operational efficiency. While passenger management in 'skewer dumpling trains' is going relatively well, there are still issues such as trains pretending to be broken ('moving broken cars'), trains speeding away even though there is still space for more passengers ('jump trains'), trains that ignore waiting passengers at stops ('slipping trains'), and trains running without clear destinations ('black trains'). Clearly, there are still significant gaps in the education of the train operators.

Maehara: "There is clearly a lack of adequate training for the crew, but it seems we are still feeling the aftereffects of having overemphasized the improvement of train turnaround rates for a period. We are determined to make every effort to address this."

While there are certainly ongoing challenges and 'impossible' situations, Maehara’s dedication to his work is evident. He is known for late-night sessions with experts, formulating plans to improve operations. The people of Seoul have great expectations for him as the new senior executive at Seoul Electric.
[Photo: Executive Maehara guiding workers on-site]

[Transcription]

京城日報 1945年8月3日
上手に電車よ走れ
穂積社長と混雑緩和問答
修理困難に閉口

やっと電車が来たかと思うと押し合いへし合い阿鼻叫喚、正しく交通地獄だ。戦う京城府民の『足』の問題は悩みの種である。輸送緩和へなんとか施策はないものか。府民の此の苦情を京電本社へ持ち込み打開究明の二題＝先ず穂積社長の肚を叩いて電車を走らそうとする問答

一掃したい故障車
問：輸送が混雑する根本原因は何か？
答：もとは全車輌の九十五パーセントを動かしていたのが京電の自慢だったが、今は修繕が行き届かない。車輌も足らないモーターも手に入らない、そこで無理に親子電車を引張るのだが無理をするから更に故障が増えるという始末だ。乗務員の欠勤率も揚っている。
問：資材難は仕方ないとしても技術者現役生徒の勤労奉仕も車輌修繕を手伝わしたり労務管理を徹底すれば或る程度混雑は緩和されないか？
答：夫は君、電気会社だけすることかね。最近雨の為に故障車は増えているし修理の手は勿論緊要だし乗務員の身分的安定も考慮せねばならぬ。従業員の食糧、資材斡旋等関係官庁の助力が必要で府民の交通道徳の昂揚も緩和策だ。
問：無駄な人を運ばないようにすればどうか？
答：最近買出し部隊がめっきり増えてきて大きな荷物を持ち込み混雑の一因となっているが、然らばほんとうに用がある人とは何か。買出しも食う為にはどうしてもやらなければならぬ状態だから其の人にとっては無用だとは言えぬではないか。配車ももっと考慮すべきだと思う。
問：事故が増えてきた様だが？
答：一般に注意力が減ってきている。乗務員もそうだ。此の点恐縮している。然し近頃の状態を見ているとまるで野暮人と野暮人の競合だよ。京電は電車を動かすが乗客の交通道徳とか訓練は他にやるべき機関があるではないか。運転手の再教育は必要だと思う。
問：何とか輸送緩和へ京電の決戦施策はないか？
答：いいかね君、食物も少ないと喧嘩をする。輸送も車輌さえあれば問題ない。其の為には修繕の『手』を搔き集めたい。そうすれば元通り復活することは不可能ではない。

芸の無い配車ぶり
紳士車掌前原さん思案投げ首
都心生活に道徳心も明朗性も先ず電車運営の妙味が大きく揺らぐ。京城電車幹部の陣頭指揮に同行。現場の実体を衝く。
『押すな潰れるぞ何言うか、ぼやぼやするな！』
午後五時頃混雑絶頂の黄金町入口で客をさばき乍ら『御順に中へ願います、まだ乗れますから中へ詰めて下さい』懸命に名車掌ぶりを発揮しているのが中年の紳士車掌。これが京電前原常務だ。記者が乞うて混雑電車打開の現場問答に出て貰った姿だ。
『そんなに詰められるかい、人間は荷物じゃないぞ』と怒声が飛んで来て常務の縮んだ首が苦笑する。
『常務も電車てうものに乗りますか』
『冗談ではない。三日にあげず乗っている』
以下馬鹿囃子で締め上げる様にして乗った記者との車中問答。
『この混雑は何とかならんか。此の前も肋骨二本を折って入院した客もある』
『会社の不勉強で決戦輸送に充分の奉仕が出来ず申し訳ない。何と言っても電車が足らない。昨年末の混雑時に較べて現在は更に三割減車している。それに加えて毎日一日出庫した車が故障で入庫するが其の数は二割五分に達している』
『修理能力の強化は出来ぬか』
『工員不足だ』
『工員不足だ、と放っては擱けまい』
『勿論電車も兵器だの信念で工員教育と、工員募集に努力している。近く充足会社としての工員待遇の規定が適用されれば工員も落ちつくと思うが当局の措置も遅い憾みがある』
『それにしても極端に減車した今日、電車の操車技術にも思い切った新構想を行うのは会社として第一の要点ではないか』
『考えてはいるが困難だ』
永楽町では乗客が大分下車して、待っていた客のかなりが乗車出来た。交叉点技術を突っ込んでいる。
『例えば此の線には南大門方面からと西大門方面からの車が二重に集まるので此処迄歩けば幾何か楽に乗れる。もし黄金町入口の二つの乗場を黄金町線側に統合したら車の利用率はぐっと上がると思うが』
『夫は精密に計算してみないと優劣は解らない。高等数学の『組合』の問題だ。それにゴーストップの信号が全然別個の管轄だから厄介だ』
『精密に計算してみたことがあるか』
『それはない。然し電車は交叉点前で止まるのが定石だ。定石を打破してみるのが肝要ではないか』
黄金町四丁目で降りてみる。丁度来合わせた十輌も重なった「親子電車」に『いや端へ向の親子が来ましたね』と常務卿が照れた形だ。先頭の車に原因を訊くとモーターの故障だ。
『大体時々廻ってみて解るのはモーターの故障、制動器、ボール、遮断器と色々の故障の為に大小の団子運転を作っているが之が乗客に大変な迷惑をお掛けしている。現場で修理出来ぬものも多い』
『一日にどれ程団子を作っているか』
『それは解らない。一々報告がない』
『それ位の統計を作るだけの研究熱意はないのか』
『．．．団子の「運行中処理は」電車学会の宿題になっているが、こう故障が頻発しては大いに研究せねばならない。街の科学者の知恵も借りたい所だ。京電でも研究中だが、団子の原因と種類だけでも十数程ある』
試みに二人で黄金町から六丁目方面行きの通過車輌を記録してみる。六時五十一分黄金町行、七時黄金町行、七時十六分続いて黄金町行、七時十七分同、七時二十分同、七時二十五分同、始めてから三十分後にやっと往十里行が来る。しかも小型の両入口にはみ出した客が鈴成りのまま徐行して止まる。危なくてみておれない。続いて往十里行が二台、三台目は皮肉にも空いている。日に九万人の通勤者を運ぶ往十里線の操車はこれでは拙劣此上もない『串団子』運転だ。
『時々要地点で行先変更をやり調節してはどうか』
『乗客が無理解で出来ないものもかえって混乱して収拾がつかぬ』
『混乱を整理するための処置を下級従業員に委せて、混乱するのなら要所に係を配置してやればよいだろう。問題は古い操車通念を打破することだ。どうも操車上の「定石」に囚れているように思う』
敦岩町の停留所は相変わらず長蛇の列でざっと四百名が押しかけている。多い時は六百を超えている。鐘路四丁目でもまた大物長蛇が待っているが、一日八万の通勤者を僅か八輌の車が運んでいる。それでも比較的順調な一本運転に対して黄金町線の客が波状的に殺到するから運用率は全然低下している。ここの乗客整理はうまく行っていた『串団子電車』もさることながら故障を偽った「動く故障車」まだ空いているのに客を振り切って走る「跳び出し電車」停車点の客を無視して行き過ぎる「滑り込み電車」行き先も前後も解らず走る「闇電車」等々まだまだ運転手教育に不充分の處がある。
『全く乗務員教育の足らん處だが一時回車率向上を強調した余波がまだあるようだ。極力努力したいと思っている』
問題は勿論困難と『不可能』の続出かも知らぬが、技術畑に鍛えたという仕事への熱と追及力が充分みられ、陣頭指揮の一方、夜おそく迄専門家と首引で構想を錬ると言う新常務前原鷹氏の仕事ぶりは府民が大いに期待する處だ。

【写真＝現場で整理員指導中の前原京電常務】

The original source can be checked out at the National Library of Korea, which I visited in September 2023 to take the following photos of the newspaper copies: