Inside the 1943 Seoul Crackdown on Western ‘Demonic Music’: Imperial Japan’s Campaign to Purge American and British Records, From Hawaiian Jazz to Dvořák, and Confiscate "Unhealthy or Unsuitable" Japanese and Korean Music Records in all of Korea

This article from 1943 offers a rare glimpse into one aspect of the severe censorship regime that Imperial Japan imposed on all its domains, including Korea. Here, we visit a coffeehouse in front of Seoul Station, where the owner is busy getting rid of American and British music records. Apparently, any music from American or British composers was now forbidden. That meant that Stephen Foster's folk music needed to go. Dvořák's music was also deemed unacceptable, because even though his nationality was Czech, he was considered to have strong ties to the U.S., especially since he wrote the New World Symphony there. On the other hand, music from composers of the Axis nations of Germany and Italy were considered acceptable. 

Original caption: Mr. Kawamoto donating hostile-nation records.

Throughout 1943, the newspaper issues featured brief, periodic announcements of music record confiscations. Here, I am showing you one representative notice from May 1943 that features the confiscation of American and British music records as well as "inappropriate" Japanese and Korean-language music records. We can see here that the neighborhood cell (Patriotic Group) leaders were tasked with inspecting and gathering the banned music records from all the households under their jurisdiction and submitting them to the League of Mobilization at the town (eup) level for disposal and recycling. The League of Mobilization was the one and only political party of Colonial Korea that had a hierarchical structure that extended down to the neighborhood cell level to exert oppressive, totalitarian control over the Korean people.

[Translation]

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijō Nippo) March 20, 1943

Over One Hundred Selected Records
The First Spear in Sweeping Away American and British Music
Mr. Kawamoto Immediately Goes to the Military Government Office

Chief Dōmoto of the Information Section recently made a forceful statement: “Now is the time to drive out from our homes and our streets the American- and British-made jazz and demonic music that whip up the noise of the city and drive madness into the very marrow of people’s brains!” The web of ideological subversion that spreads through cultural channels cannot be cut in a single day. The harmful influence of American- and British-style records is one such danger.

Rising to the call, declaring “We must eradicate this demonic music without fail…,” is Mr. Kawamoto Ishi"iwa (age 39), owner of Seoul Café in front of Seoul Station, known as a “Western-music coffeehouse.” On March 19th, the very day of Chief Dōmoto’s statement, he immediately went to the shelves holding the numerous Western-music records stored in his shop and selected over one hundred American- and British-type records, including parts of The Foster Collection, Dvořák’s New World Symphony, Hawaiian Jazz, and World Folk Songs, and decided to proceed with the donation process through the Military Government Office. On March 19th, Mr. Kawamoto spoke:

“As you can see, I have collected Western-music records extensively as a hobby, so there are many. Even sorting out the American and British records will take several days. But I also have many works by musical saints of the Axis nations, like Beethoven, Mozart, Bach, and Italy’s Verdi, so there is no shortage of wholesome entertainment. At this opportunity, I intend to sweep out all American and British records entirely and donate the whole lot.”

[Photo: Mr. Kawamoto donating hostile-nation records]

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijō Nippo) May 16, 1943

Collection of Hostile-Nation Records

[Miryang] In the town (eup), in order to heighten hostility toward the enemy and strengthen the movement to reject enemy nations under the wartime system, it has been announced that all records from enemy nations, America and Britain, will be collected. This includes Japanese-language and Korean-language records whose musical content is deemed unhealthy or unsuitable for performance in the present circumstances. The goal is to sweep them all away and elevate the people’s fighting spirit toward certain victory, urging each member of the League of Mobilization to voluntarily contribute such materials.

The notice provides:

▲ Patriotic Group Leaders are to survey in advance the American- and British-made records possessed by each member of their group.

▲ Patriotic Group Leaders are to gather the records submitted by each member and bring them collectively to the Town (eup) League.

▲ Care must be taken not to damage records that fall under the contribution requirement. In view of material shortages at this time, used records are also to be thoroughly collected as part of resource recovery.

[Transcription]

京城日報 1943年3月20日

選りだした音盤百余枚
米英音楽一掃へ一番槍
河本さん早速武官府へ

巷の喧噪に拍車をかけ脳髄のシンまで狂わせる米英製ジャズや鬼畜音楽を今こそ家庭から街から駆逐せよーとの堂本情報課長の談話は大きく響いた。文化面を通じこの思想謀略の網は一朝にして断ち切れない。米英的レコードの害毒もその一つ。『鬼畜音楽を断じて絶滅しよう．．．』と立ち上ったのは『洋楽の喫茶店』でしられた京城駅前京城茶房主人河本石岩さん（３９）で、課長談話のあった十九日、早速店内に積まれた夥だしい洋楽レコードの棚から『フォスター選集』『ドボルザーク新世界』『ハワイアンジャズ』『世界民謡集』の一部などの米英的レコード百余枚を取出し武官府を通じて献納手続きをとることとなった。十九日河本さんは語る。

御覧のように洋楽レコード専門に趣味的に集めてあるため数も多く米英レコードを選り出すにも数日かかる有様です。しかしベートーベンやモーツァルト、バッハ或は伊太利のベルデ―など枢軸国楽聖のも多数あるので、健全娯楽にはことを欠きません。米英レコードはこの際一掃して全部を献納しようと思います。【写真＝敵性レコード献納の河本さん】

京城日報 1943年5月16日

敵性音盤回収

【密陽】邑では決戦体制下敵愾心昂揚と敵国排撃の運動強化を図り、この際敵国米英の音楽内容不健全にして時局柄演奏不適と認める国語盤及び朝鮮語盤も一掃し国民必勝の士気を昂揚せんと各聯盟員の自発的供出促進を促し回収方を通告した。

▲愛国班長をして各班員の所持せる米英のレコードを予め調査せしめる。

▲愛国班長をして各班員の供出せるレコードを取纏め邑聯盟へ持参せしめる。

▲供出該当レコードを破損せしめざぬ様注意する、なお資材不足の折柄資回収の意味において中古品レコードも併せて供出方徹底せしめる。

Source: National Library of Korea, Digital Newspaper Archive 

See also:

• Not content with merely banning U.S. and British jazz music, colonial authorities forced cafes, bars, and restaurants to throw out all phonograph records, and replaced the in-store background music with Imperial Japanese military songs and news propaganda blaring on the radio (Jongno, Seoul, 1943) (link)

• In 1944, Imperial Japan launched an “all-out campaign” to erase Hangul from public life, mobilizing teachers and Korean youth to destroy Korean signs, books, and even phonograph records (link)

How Imperial Japan spun a dead Korean industrial accident victim into a wartime hero: ‘Follow in the spirit of Mr. Lim!’, ‘The flower of the workplace!’ at Tōyō Metal in Sinuiju (October 1, 1943)

In previous posts, I explored how Imperial Japan glorified Korean Kamikaze pilots in 1945, repackaging their deaths as noble sacrifices for the empire. But the glorification of dead Koreans did not begin at the war’s end—it was already underway earlier, as shown in this 1943 article published in the Keijō Nippo.

TLDR: This report recounts the workplace death of a young Korean metal-factory worker, Mr. Hayashi (Lim), who was fatally burned while attempting to fix a furnace anomaly outside his assigned post. The article turns this preventable industrial accident into a story of patriotic heroism, culminating in a full “factory funeral” and calls for others to “follow in the spirit of Mr. Lim!”

But behind the imperial rhetoric lies a clear case of systemic negligence and serious safety failures: molten material escaping violently, a lack of safety mechanisms, inadequate emergency procedures, and an overreliance on worker improvisation. The propaganda article frames this death as a noble sacrifice and a selfless patriotic act to divert attention away from the real issues: the gross negligence and utter disregard for safety and human life that permeated workplaces in Imperial Japan.

Unfortunately, failures in molten-metal containment still occur in South Korea’s heavy industry, and one worker recently died in circumstances similar to Mr. Lim. On February 28, 2025, a fire broke out at Hyundai Steel’s No. 1 blast furnace plant in Dangjin, South Chungcheong Province, triggered by a leak of about 300 tons of molten metal. On November 10, 2024, POSCO suspended production at its Pohang facility after a fire broke out at a furnace around 4:20 a.m., injuring one worker. In March 2025, a worker died by falling into a furnace slag pit at a Hyundai Steel plant in Pohang.

[Translation]

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo) October 13, 1943

Follow His Sense of Duty!
Ah! The Flower of the Workplace, Mr. Lim's Death in the Line of Duty

A moving story of workplace dedication was reported at the regular bureau chief meeting on the 12th by Director Uetaki of the Industrial Development Bureau. A factory worker who had always upheld his responsibilities went beyond his assigned duties to help a coworker in trouble. In doing so, he tragically died, becoming the “flower of the workplace.” To honor his strong sense of duty, the factory held a solemn memorial service to comfort his spirit.

Hayashi (Lim) Shōzaburō, 21 years old, originally from Shōwa-chō, Nonsan-eup, Chungnam Province, was hired on January 4 of this year by the Tōyō Metal Factory in Sinuiju. Assigned to the dehydration plant as a dehydration worker, he quickly gained admiration throughout the factory for his gentle nature, diligence, and exceptional sense of responsibility—he was a model worker who stood out among his peers.

On September 22, he was on the night shift and in charge of Furnace No. 1 at the dehydration plant. His shift ended at 5:30 p.m., and after completing the shutdown procedures, he prepared to go home. At that moment, he noticed an abnormality in the clay sealing area of the slag outlet of Furnace No. 2. Although it was not his assigned post, he could not ignore a potential danger that might affect the entire factory. So, he teamed up with Mr. Lim Hee-jun (림 희준, 林煕俊), the operator in charge of Furnace No. 2, and began emergency clay repair work. Just as they approached the furnace mouth, molten material from the overheated furnace suddenly gushed out.

Mr. Hayashi tried to react immediately, but in an unfortunate twist, he collided with Mr. Lim Hee-jun who was standing behind him. Both fell to the ground and were severely burned on their backs. They were quickly rescued by fellow workers and rushed to the provincial hospital.

While Mr. Lim Hee-jun fortunately survived, Mr. Shōzaburō Hayashi's condition worsened. As he declined, he was surrounded by his elder brother Tokutarō and his wife, the factory director, department heads, and fellow workers. As his death approached, he whispered in gratitude, “I am a fortunate man to be cared for by so many. I am content even in death.” On October 1, at 11:00 p.m., he finally passed away in the line of duty.

That night saw a fierce thunderstorm. As he neared his final breath, Mr. Hayashi said, “What a storm… the people at the plant must be struggling. I hope they can carry on their work safely.” Even at the very end when taking his last breaths, his thoughts were only for his work and his comrades, and the strength of his sense of duty moved everyone at his bedside to tears.

Tōyō Metal mourned the loss of such an excellent worker during this time of national struggle. On the afternoon of October 3 at 4:00 p.m., a solemn factory funeral was held near the site of his death, attended by all factory workers including the director. They praised his industrial spirit, and all those present vowed, "Follow in the spirit of Mr. Lim!" and to further redouble their efforts in boosting production.

[Transcription]

京城日報 1943年10月13日

この責任感に続け
ああ！職場の華、林君の殉職

自己の持場を守り徹した工員が隣人の持場の危機救援に赴いて遂に尊くも職場の華と散ったが、その旺盛な責任感を讃えて、この程工場葬を以て厚く故人の霊を慰めたという職場感激談が十二日の定例局長会議席上で上滝殖産局長から報告された。

忠南論山邑昭和町出身林正三郎君（２１）は本年一月四日東洋金属新義州工場に採用され脱水工場に脱水工員として勤務、資性温順、精励格勤、責任感旺盛な模範工員として全工場に異彩を放って来た。

九月二十二日はたまたま夜勤となり脱水工場第一号炉を担当。午後五時三十分夜勤を終了昇温操作を終って帰途についた。そのとき第二号炉のスラグ取出口の装填粘土部に異状を発見した同君は自分の持場でないとはいえ全工場のため見捨てでは置けないと第二号炉担当の林煕俊君と協力、応急措置として粘土作業をなすべく炉口に立った刹那、炉熱の溶液が猛然漏出して来た。同君は間髪を入れず身を転じたのであったが、運悪く背後にいた林煕俊君と衝突二人ともその場に顛倒。無残にも背中一杯に大火傷を受け馳せつけた工場員に助けられて道立病院に担ぎ込まれた。

林煕俊君は幸いにも一命をとり止めたが林正三郎君の経過は悪く兄徳太郎さん夫妻をはじめ工場長、課長、同僚工員などに見護れながら次第に危篤に陥入った。死期近づいた同君は、『こんなに皆様のお世話になって私は幸福者です。死んでも満足です』と苦しい息の下から感謝していたが十月一日午後十一時遂いに殉職した。同夜は大雷雨の日であったが林君は『大嵐だな。現場の人たちは困っているだろう。うまく仕事が出来ると宜いがなあ』と息を引きとる間際まで工場と仕事とのことのみを思い続けその責任感の旺盛なのに枕頭の人々を泣かしめたのであった。東洋金属では決戦下かかる優秀な工員を事故のため失ったことを痛惜。三日午後四時から林徳三郎君の殉職現場付近で工場長以下全工員参集してしめやかな工場葬を営み同君の産業魂を讃え参列工員もまた『林君の精神に続け』とますます生産増強に邁進を誓ったのである。

Source: National Library of Korea, Digital Newspaper Archive 

Rule by Fear: How Imperial Japan Expanded the Death Penalty and Toughened Sentences in Wartime Korea – Crackdowns on Protesters After Just One Warning (February 1944)

This February 17, 1944 Keijo Nippo article—published during Imperial Japan’s final wartime push—lays out the colonial government’s Special Ordinance for Wartime Criminal Cases as applied in Korea. Framed as a “question-and-answer” explanation of new legal provisions, it offers a rare window into the colonial regime’s obsession with internal control as the war turned against Japan.

Buried beneath the bureaucratic tone is unmistakable evidence of civil unrest in wartime Korea. The detailed sections on riots, “public disturbances,” and “obstruction of wartime industries” reveal that protests and resistance were occurring often enough to alarm the colonial authorities into ramping up criminal sentencing guidelines. The penalties were draconian: ringleaders could face death or life imprisonment, anyone taking part could receive up to fifteen years, and even bystanders risked three years in prison or a fine of up to 1,000 yen. The law also reduced the number of police warnings required before a crackdown from three to just one—a clear signal of zero tolerance for dissent.

These extreme measures underscore both the depth of Imperial Japan’s anxiety over maintaining control and the courage of Korean resistance activists who continued to defy colonial authorities despite knowing that even standing nearby at a protest could mean imprisonment—or death.

The following table summarizes the harsh punishments listed in the February 17, 1944 Keijo Nippo article explaining Japan’s “Special Ordinance for Wartime Criminal Cases” in colonial Korea.

Category / Crime	New Wartime Penalty (1944 Ordinance)
Arson (inhabited buildings, trains, ships, coal mines)	Death, life imprisonment, or at least 10 years’ imprisonment
Arson (uninhabited property)	Life imprisonment or at least 3 years
Arson of aircraft or automobiles	Newly added category; same as above due to military importance
Indecent assault / rape / robbery with violence	Death penalty possible; prosecution allowed without victim’s complaint
Obstruction of air-defense officials	Up to 7 years’ imprisonment
Riot or public disturbance	Ringleader: death, life, or ≥3 years; other participants: 1–15 years or ≤1,000 yen fine; onlookers: ≤3 years or ≤1,000 yen fine; punishment after just one warning
Obstruction of public air defense / observation	Death, life, or ≥3 years; damage to meteorological facilities ≤10 years
Obstruction of communications	Life imprisonment or at least 1 year
Obstruction of vital industries	Up to life imprisonment, including for labor unrest
Hoarding or profiteering	At least 5 years’ imprisonment or ≤10,000 yen fine (or both); merchants punished most severely
Obstruction of wartime transport	≥1 year; if injury or death: death, life, or ≥3 years; interfering with trains/ships: life or ≥5 years; if death occurs: death penalty
Unlawful home entry	≥5 years or ≤1,000 yen fine (even if household member consents without master’s approval)
Corruption / bribery (including intermediaries)	Intermediaries punished the same as direct bribe-givers
Defense attorney limit	Maximum of two defense attorneys, must be appointed within 10 days
Trial system change	Appeals reduced from three tiers to two (effective March 15, 1944)

 

[Translation]

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo) February 17, 1944

The Character of the Wartime Criminal Special Ordinance: Q&A
A Single Word: ‘Crackdown!’
Particularly Harsh on Black-Market Merchants
Even Intermediaries in Bribery to Be Punished

On February 15, the government simultaneously promulgated the Special Ordinance for Wartime Criminal Cases, Special Ordinance for Wartime Civil Cases, Court Ordinance Wartime Special Provisions, and other related measures, including the Wartime Special Provisions for the National Defense Security Law and Peace Preservation Law for simplifying judicial procedures in Korea, as well as revisions to the Korean Tenancy Mediation Ordinance and Korean Personnel Mediation Ordinance. These will take effect on March 15.

As the Greater East Asia War enters its decisive stage, Imperial Japan’s one hundred million people must mobilize all their strength to achieve a dramatic increase in war power. The decisive strengthening and reorganization of the Korean judicial system has been completed to ensure domestic peace and the stability of the citizens’ duties and rights, which form the basic conditions for the maximum exertion of the nation’s total war power. Henceforth, citizens must live by the principle of “365 days of law observance.”

Among the new wartime judicial decrees, the Special Ordinance for Wartime Criminal Cases strengthens and systematizes substantive criminal penalties to address various crimes arising under wartime conditions. It prepares for any emergencies that may occur under continuous air-raid blackouts as enemy attacks become inevitable. Even apart from such emergencies, it is the most important criminal provision for domestic security under wartime conditions, designed to preserve social tranquility, accomplish the national defense economy, and ensure an ironclad defense against malicious crimes in wartime governance.

The following is a Q&A interview conducted with Mr. Miyazaki Yasuoki, an official of the Criminal Affairs Division, Legal Affairs Bureau, Office of the Governor-General of Korea, to clarify the full scope and character of this Korean Special Ordinance for Wartime Criminal Cases.

Mr. Miyazaki, Legal Affairs Officer

(Photo: Mr. Miyazaki, Legal Affairs Officer)

Q: How does the punishment for arson differ from before?

A: Under Article 108 of the Penal Code, arson against an inhabited building, train, locomotive, ship, or coal mine carried a sentence of death, life imprisonment, or at least five years’ imprisonment. Now, this has been raised to death, life imprisonment, or at least ten years’ imprisonment.

Arson against uninhabited properties has previously been punished by at least two years’ imprisonment, but the sentence has now been raised to life imprisonment or at least three years. Aircraft and automobiles are now added as new categories, reflecting their wartime importance as weapons.

Q: What about crimes of indecent assault and robbery accompanied by violence?

A: In Germany, these already carry the death penalty. In particular, this provision aims to impose resolute punishment for lawless acts committed during preparations for air-defense operations or under blackout conditions. All such offenses are now classified as non-complaint crimes: whereas previously crimes such as rape could only be prosecuted upon a formal accusation by the victim or her husband, under wartime conditions arrests may be made immediately upon discovery of the criminal act, without waiting for any such complaint.

Furthermore, the offense of indecent assault and sexual misconduct, which had previously been handled under a special decree concerning wartime criminal punishment, has now been consolidated together with robbery accompanied by violence.

Q: What is “obstruction of official duty against air-defense public officials”?

A: This provision, newly established alongside the crime of treason and insurrection, underscores the critical importance of the air-defense system in this stage of decisive warfare. Any act of violence or intimidation against air-defense personnel in the performance of their duties will incur harsher penalties, punishable by imprisonment for up to seven years.

Q: Who are considered “air-defense public officials”?

A: It naturally includes all government officials involved in air defense. In mainland Japan, air-defense rescue workers are also considered to be public officials.

Q: In wartime riots, how many people constitute a “group”?

A: The number is not fixed; it will be determined by common sense and circumstances.

Q: What punishments apply to rioting?

A: The ringleader shall be punished by death, life imprisonment, or imprisonment for not less than three years (formerly one to ten years). Even if there is no ringleader, those who direct the disturbance or take the lead in aiding its momentum shall now face imprisonment of one to fifteen years (formerly six months to seven years). Followers and onlookers who join in are also to be strictly punished: what was once a fine of up to fifty yen has been raised to a fine of up to one thousand yen or imprisonment for up to three years.

When a crowd gathers and the police order it to disperse, the previous rule was that punishment applied only after the order had been given three times and still not obeyed. Under the new provision, punishment now applies after a single order. In such cases, the ringleader may be sentenced to up to ten years’ imprisonment (formerly three years), and others, who were previously subject only to fines, now face imprisonment of up to three years or fines of up to one thousand yen. The public is therefore cautioned to take care not to become entangled in such disturbances.

Q: What is “obstruction of public air defense or observation”?

A: Like the offense of obstructing air-defense officials, this too is a provision newly established under the Special Ordinance for Wartime Criminal Cases in recognition of the critical importance of air defense during wartime. Anyone who destroys an air-raid shelter, public shelter, evacuation site, observation post, or signaling device, or who—even without destroying them—renders an air-raid siren unable to sound, shall be punished by death, life imprisonment, or imprisonment for not less than three years. Those who damage meteorological observation buildings or facilities shall be punished by imprisonment for up to ten years

Q: What constitutes “obstruction of public communications”?

A: Cutting postal or telecommunication facilities or wires. Formerly lightly punished under telegraph law, now punishable by life imprisonment or at least one year’s imprisonment.

Q: How about “obstruction of vital industries”?

A: Especially in Korea, where heavy industry is developed, citizens must take great care. This provision has been newly established to ensure the continued execution of industries essential to national defense during wartime. Not only does it apply to aircraft, weapons, and other vital munitions industries, but even when workers cause disturbances over treatment or wages, the maximum penalty prescribed is life imprisonment.

Q: A decisive crackdown is now to be rendered against those engaged in hoarding and withholding goods for profit—acts that most directly concern us ordinary citizens in wartime. In what ways does this differ from the previous provisions?

A: The purpose of this provision is to ensure the smooth balance of supply and demand for daily necessities. Accordingly, anyone who hoards or withholds essential goods with the intent of obtaining illicit business profits shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than five years or a fine of up to ten thousand yen, and, depending on the circumstances, may be subjected to both imprisonment and a fine.

Previously, acts of hoarding or withholding were punishable under Article 105 of the Penal Code, which prescribed imprisonment of at least one year or up to life imprisonment for acts that ‘seriously disrupt the operation of the national economy through disturbances in the financial markets, interference with the production or distribution of essential goods, or other such means.’ However, since not all cases of hoarding or withholding reached that level of economic disruption, this new special decree targets a narrower but more malicious class of offenders—those who hoard or withhold goods with the intent of obtaining illegitimate business profits—who are deemed more blameworthy than those merely violating the earlier regulations on profiteering acts.

Put more plainly, whereas under the previous system both merchants and ordinary individuals were punished equally for hoarding or withholding goods, under the new ordinance merchants are subject to far harsher penalties. In effect, the law’s loopholes have been completely closed.

Q: “Obstruction of wartime traffic” sounds broad—what does it cover?

A: This category includes roads, bridges, railways, signs, and harbor buoys. The provision applies to cases in which these are damaged in a manner that obstructs the operation of trains, streetcars, or ships.

For example, anyone who damages a road, waterway, or bridge and thereby interferes with transportation shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than one year (formerly by a fine of not less than two hundred yen or imprisonment for up to two years). If, as a result, a person is killed or injured, the penalty shall be death, life imprisonment, or imprisonment for not less than three years. If the act obstructs the operation of trains, streetcars, or ships, the punishment shall be life imprisonment or imprisonment for not less than five years. If the obstruction concerns a train, streetcar, or ship carrying passengers and results in death, the death penalty shall be imposed — a singularly severe punishment applied without exception. These measures underscore how vital transportation is during wartime.

Q: Home invasions have recently caused serious social concern.

A: The maintenance of social order on the home front during wartime must be upheld without fail. Even if one obtains the consent of the wife or other members of the household, entering another person’s residence without the consent of the master of the house constitutes unlawful entry, punishable by imprisonment for not less than five years or a fine of up to one thousand yen (formerly punishable by imprisonment for not less than three years or a fine of up to fifty yen).

Q: Disciplinary enforcement among government officials is becoming ever more stringent, but where does the focus lie in the present wartime offense of official misconduct?”

A: Officials, who ought to take the lead in guiding the people, must, in accordance with the spirit of the recently promulgated Wartime Public Officials Service Ordinance, convert every aspect of their conduct to a wartime footing. Acts of dereliction in office can by no means be tolerated in the present day. Under this new special ordinance, even those aspects that previously escaped punishment are now comprehensively brought within the scope of the law.

Of particular note for the general public is the newly established crime of ‘the giving and receiving of wartime bribery funds.’ Under the previous bribery statute, no offense was constituted unless the act of bribery was actually carried out. Under the new provisions, however, even a person who, for example, is induced by a corrupt broker to take custody of a bribe for delivery to a third party shall be punished by the same penalties as for the act of bribery itself.

Q: In the criminal procedure provisions, the number of defense attorneys has been limited to two. What is the purpose of this restriction?

A: The aim is to simplify court proceedings. Under the pressing conditions of the present situation, it is only natural to eliminate anything unnecessary. Along with limiting the number of defense attorneys, the period for their appointment has also been set at within ten days, so that the power of the courts may be exercised with greater speed.

Q: Under the new special ordinance, the judicial system will be reduced to two instances of trial, to take effect from March 15. What will happen to cases that are already pending before the courts prior to enforcement?

A: Cases in which arguments before the court of first instance have been concluded before March 15 will continue under the existing three-tier system. Cases that are currently in trial before the first-instance court, or have been filed but not yet heard by that date, will be handled under the new two-tier system.

[Transcription]

京城日報 1944年2月17日

あるは”断”の一字
戦時刑事特別令の性格：一問一答
特に厳しい商人の闇
贈賄はその取次ぎ者も処罰

裁判所令戦時特例、民事特別令、刑事特別令、更に半島における裁判手続簡素化のための国防保安法及び治安維持法の戦時特例に関する法律もこれに付随する朝鮮小作調停令及び朝鮮人事調停令の改正が去る十五日一斉に公布され、三月十五日から実施することとなった。

大東亜戦争が決戦の段階に突入、いまや一億は総力をあげて戦力の飛躍的増強に結集。国家の総合戦力を最高度に発揮するための基礎条件である国内治安の確保と国民権義の安定を期した半島司法体制の決戦的整備強化陣は成った。これにより愈愈国民が”遵法三百六十五日”で行かなければならない。この戦時司法令のうち刑事特別令は戦時下における各種犯罪に対処する為の実体的刑罰規定を整備強化して、今や敵襲必至の情勢下、連続実施する灯火管制下に生ずるかも知れない各種非常事態に備えたのは勿論、それまでならなくとも苟も戦時下、社会の安寧、国防経済の完遂、将又戦時運用に鉄壁を期して悪質犯罪を防がんとする国内治安上最も重要な刑罰規定である。

以下は総督府法務局刑事課事務官宮崎保興氏に一問一答を試みた”朝鮮戦時刑事特別令”の全貌とその性格である。【写真＝宮崎事務官】

問：放火罪は従来と如何に違うか？

答：刑法百八条によると、人の現に住まっている建造物及び電車、汽車、汽船、炭坑に放火した者は死刑、或は無期、五年以上の懲役に処せられていたが、これからは刑罰が重くひきあげられ死刑、無期十年以上の懲役となった。また放火場所が人の居ないところでは従来二年以上の懲役であったが、これまた無期或は三年以上の懲役に引き上げた。また放火対象物で右の外に新しく航空機、自動車が戦時下、兵器の重要性によって新しく加わった。

問：猥褻姦淫罪及び強窃盗罪は？

答：ドイツではすでに極刑をもってのぞんでいる。特にこれは防空態勢下の準備及び灯火管制における不逞な行為に対し断乎たる処罰を期するもので、その中総てが非親告罪となったことは、これまで強姦などは被害者とその夫の告訴によって成立したのが、戦時においては親告をまたなくとも犯罪事実発覚次第いくらでも検挙が出来る。

なお猥褻姦淫罪は戦時犯罪処罰の特令に関する件だったのがこんどは強窃盗罪と一緒に纏めている。

問：防空公務員に対する公務執行妨害罪とは？

答：国政変乱罪と共にこの方は新しく設けたものである。勿論決戦下の防空体制の重要性を現わしている。防空公務員の職務遂行に対する暴行、脅迫も刑罰が過重され、何れも七年以下の懲役に処せられる。

問：防空公務員とは如何なる範囲のものか？

答：防空関係の官公吏をいうのはいうまでもないが、内地では防空救護員も公務員としている。

問：戦時騒擾では、幾名をもって集団と看做すのか？

答：その数は一定していないといっても常識をもって判断する。

問：その刑罰はどんなものか？

答：首魁は死刑、無期及び三年以上の懲役（従来は一年以上十年以下の懲役）首魁がなくても指揮者及び率先して勢を助けたものは、これまで六月以上七年以下が一年以上十五年以下、それに雷同者、野次馬も厳重に処罰することとなり、従来五十円以下の罰金が千円以下の罰金または三年以下の懲役。

多数の者が集って警察官から解散を命ぜられた場合、いままではその命令が三回発せられてなおこれに服従しないときは罰せられたが、こんどはそれが一回となり、その中首魁は十年以下（従来は三年）その他も罰金のみだったのが三年以下の懲役及び千円以下の罰金と刑罰を過重した。若しもの場合、民衆はこのような騒擾に巻き込まれないように注意すべきである。

問：公共防空、観測妨害とは？

答：防空公務の執行妨害と同様にこれも戦時下、防空の重要性によって設けられた戦時刑事特別令であって、防空壕、公共待避壕、避難所、監視所、信号器などを破壊した者、壊さないまでも防空サイレンを鳴らないようにした者も死刑または無期、若しくは三年以上の懲役に処せられる。気象観測の建造物、施設を損壊した者は十年以下の懲役である。

問：公共通信妨害とは何をいうのか？

答：郵便、電気通信建物、工作物及び電線を切断した場合をいうものであって、従来は単なる電信法によって刑は軽かったが、これからは無期または一年以上の体刑となった。

問：重要産業妨害の場合はどうなるか？

答：半島は特に重工業が発達しているので、余程民衆は注意すべきである。

戦時下の国防重要産業の遂行を確保せんがために新しく規定されたものである。航空機その他兵器、軍需関係の重要工業は勿論、その建造物、施設を損壊し待遇や賃銀の問題で労務者が騒動を起した場合でも最高無期懲役まで規定せられている。

問：戦時下われわれ庶民大衆に最も問題になる買溜め、売惜しみの輩に対し”断”が下されるが従来と異なる点は？

答：目的とするところは生活必需品の円滑なる需給関係を確保するにある。従って今回の対象は業務上不正の利益を得る目的をもって生活必需品を買占め、または売惜しんだ者に対しては五年以上の懲役または一万円以下の罰金に処せられ、情によっては罰金の上に体刑を併せ科せられることになっている。

従来この種買溜め、売惜しみに対しては刑法百五条の”金融界の擾乱、重要物資の生産および配給の阻害その他の方法によって国民経済の運行を著しく阻害し”に対して一年以上無期懲役が科せられているが、この程度まで国民経済を深く阻害するに到らずといって単に”暴利を得て物品の売惜しみ、買占めをなす者”に対する暴利行為等取締規則に抵触する者より悪辣なる”業務上不正の利益を得る目的をもつ者”に対し今回の特令が下ったものである。

もっと解り易くいえば今までの買占め買惜しみに対する処罰は商売人でも普通の個人でも同じであったものが商売人の場合は厳罰をもって臨むことになったもので、法の穴を全面的に地均らしたのである。

問：戦時往来妨害というと非常に範囲が大きいが具体的にはどうなっているか？

答：道路、橋梁、鉄道、標識、港湾浮標などがこれに入る。これらを損壊し汽車、電車、船舶の運行を阻害する場合に適用される。

例えば道路、水路、橋梁を破損し交通を邪魔した者は一年以上の懲役（従来は二百円以上の罰金または二年以下の懲役）そのために、たまたま人が死傷した場合は死刑、無期または三年以上の懲役。そのため、汽車、電車、船舶の運行を妨害した場合は無期または五年以上の懲役、人が乗っている汽車、電車、船舶を妨害し、そのため人が死んだ場合は死刑ただ一本をもって臨むという厳刑である。

戦時下交通運輸を如何に重大視しているかが証明されよう。

問：家宅侵入も最近しばしば深刻な問題を生んでいるが。

答：決戦下銃後の社会治安は断じて護らねばならぬ。たとい主婦、家人の承諾を得ても主人の承諾を得ずして他人の住居に入ると不法侵入になり五年以上の懲役または千円以下の罰金である（従前は三年以上の懲役または五十円以下の罰金）

問：官公吏の綱紀粛正はますます峻厳になって行くが今回の戦時涜職罪の重点はどこにあるか？

答：民衆に率先、指導の任にあるべき官公吏はさきに公布された戦時官吏服務令の心構えで総てを戦時に切り換えねばならぬ。今日職を涜すが如き断じてあってはならぬ。今回の特令により今までは処罰出来なかった面をも漏れなく把握することになった。

特に一般が注意すべきは『戦時贈賄資金の授受』の罪である。従来の贈賄罪は事実において贈賄しなければ罪を構成しなかったが、今回より例えば悪ブローカーに乗ぜられ贈賄物を第三者に伝達すべく預かっても贈賄の罪と同じ刑に処せられる。

問：刑事手続関係中、弁護人が二名以内に制限されたが主旨は如何？

答：裁判の簡捷化にある、喫緊の現時局下必要以上のものは排除するのが当然である。弁護人の数を制限すると共に選任の時期を十日以内としたのも裁判の力を迅速に発揮しようとするにある。

問：新特別令にすれば二審別となり三月十五日から実施されるが実施前に裁判所に繋属中の事件はどうなるか？

答：三月十五日以前に第一審裁判所の弁論を終結した事件は従来通り三審制で続ける。第一審において現に公判中のものまたは公判前の受付をなしたものは二審制になる。

Source: National Library of Korea, Digital Newspaper Archive 

“Demonic Americans”: How Imperial Japan Tried to Turn Koreans Against U.S. Missionaries in 1944

During the final years of the Pacific War, as Imperial Japan faced defeat and mobilized every means available to sustain public morale, the colonial authorities in Korea intensified anti-American propaganda. One challenge they confronted was that, for decades, American missionaries had been deeply embedded in Korean society. They operated schools, hospitals, and churches, taught English, and often enjoyed widespread goodwill among Koreans. This posed a problem for the Imperial Japanese colonial regime, which needed to turn the Korean population decisively against the United States.

To address this, the colonial newspaper Keijo Nippō ran a serialized column in late 1944 titled 悪鬼米人の正体 (“The True Face of the Demonic Americans”). Beginning on August 6, 1944, this series published sensational atrocity stories depicting Americans, especially missionaries, as sadistic, inhuman abusers of Koreans. The narrative strategy was very clear: defame the missionaries to poison any lingering positive associations with America or Christianity.

I have not been able to fact-check these allegations. They may contain kernels of real incidents, heavy distortion, or be entirely fabricated, but I am posting this translation and transcription to build a trail for future researchers and historians. If anyone wishes to investigate further, the names, places, and stories contained in this article may serve as starting points.

The first installment focuses entirely on American missionaries, accusing them of cruelty toward Koreans:

• Harold Walker allegedly confined his Korean cook in a dark storeroom without water for days after she revealed to students that there was a dead snake in vinegar he offered them.

• Clyde Heismer allegedly branded a thirteen-year-old Korean boy’s cheeks with silver nitrate for picking up a fallen apple in a hospital orchard.

• Seo Guk-tae allegedly drenched a blind Korean beggar woman and her child with buckets of cold water on Christmas morning and beat them with a cane.

• Ok Seok-yeol allegedly intimidated an elderly pedestrian with his car, then struck and kicked him for not moving aside fast enough.

One linguistic detail stands out: Walker reportedly commanded the students to “eat the vinegar.” This phrasing is unnatural in both Japanese and English, but would make sense if the original words were in Korean, where 식초를 먹다 (to “eat vinegar”) can be idiomatic. This suggests that the quoted “English” speech in the article may have been based on Korean recollections or written in Korean first and then rendered literally into Japanese.

These articles represent a remarkable window into late-war colonial propaganda: the psychological battlefield, the anxieties of a collapsing empire, and the specific rhetorical tools used to manipulate Korean opinion.

[Translation]

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo) August 6, 1944

The True Face of the Demonic Americans (1)
“Drink this ‘snake vinegar’ as God’s blessing”
A boy named Kim was branded on the cheek over a single apple

The enemy America intends to exterminate the Japanese from the face of the earth! With malicious and treacherous intent, America has provoked the war against us. As front line reports of the brutal acts of American soldiers have already shown, the Americans have mocked the corpses of our brave dead and even fashioned toys out of skulls. They have neither bushido nor humanity; cruelty and barbarism alone are America’s true nature. It is not only the American soldiers. In the past, many American missionaries came to Korea wearing clerical robes, preaching humanity and world peace, and thereby tricked the pure-hearted Korean people into traps with their schemes, while behind the scenes they carried out a merciless, inhuman trade in outrages that violated all morals. Truly these deeds, intolerable to both heaven and man, move those who hear of them to cries of anguish and fury. Here and now, we will expose the many evil deeds of the demonic Americans who profaned the Korean peninsula, allow you to clearly comprehend “the true face of the Americans,” and let your hatred against the Americans explode in a sincere resolve to strike the enemy down.

“The Koreans are all thieves. They are despicable animals. I would be ashamed even to give my doghouse to a Korean to live in.” Such were the offhand remarks about Koreans spoken by a certain Anglo-American missionary. The Korean people had until very recently been indulged into admiring the missionaries as “children of God,” believing that they alone would bring them happiness, and they blindly revered them as God’s own.

Harold Walker who imprisoned a cook over snake vinegar

In October 1937, an American missionary named Harold Walker, who set up residence in Andong-eup, North Gyeongsang Province and ran a Bible institute there with an air of “the world is mine,” employed a Korean woman in her forties, surnamed Yang (양, 梁), as a cook. Around the middle of October, Yang discovered that a filthy snake had fallen into and died in a vinegar jar that had been kept in a storage shed. When she immediately tried to throw the vinegar away, Walker's facial expression changed and, without saying a word, he sharply slapped her cheek. Then, as if he himself had handled something filthy, he carefully disinfected his hands with alcohol. Afterwards, he took the jar of snake vinegar to the female students at the Bible institute and, with shameless insincerity, said, “My dear sisters, allow me to give you some flavorful vinegar,” and attempted to make the girls drink the snake vinegar.

It was then that Ms. Yang felt anger for the first time. Even though she knew that she was going to be treated like a dog, she told the female students that there had been a dead snake in the vinegar. When Walker learned of this, he gathered the students and threatened them, saying, “How dare you refuse to eat the vinegar that your priest is giving you! You will soon receive God’s punishment.” In the end, he dragged Yang out, hurled her about, kicked her, and committed the utmost cruelties. Then, with stern resolve, he declared, “This woman put the snake into the vinegar. She is inhuman. She must be given divine punishment,” and kicked her into a dark storage compartment. She was called “a despicable animal”. He said that even if she did not eat or drink for a day or two it would be all right; she would not die. For several days he did not give her a single drop of water. What kind of inhuman behavior do those people display! This is the true face of those who pretend to be cultured and preach peace and equality.

Clyde Albert Heismer who branded a 13-year-old boy over an apple

Clyde Albert Heismer was a doctor at the Sunan Hospital run by the Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Sunan-myeon (순안면, 順安面), Pyongwon County, South Pyongan Province, and he was also a missionary. On August 10, 1925, the apples in the orchard in the hospital courtyard were in full ripeness, tempting the tastebuds of the children in the village. At that time, unable to endure the heat, a boy from Namchang-ri (남창리, 南昌里), surname Kim (age 13), was standing beneath an apple tree. Just then, a half-rotten apple fell. The boy Kim picked it up. Immediately, Heismer’s hairy arm seized the back of the boy’s neck, crying, “You thief!”

Saying only “I will kill you!” he tied the boy to the apple tree. The boy Kim strained his whole body in an attempt to explain himself. In the end, he begged for mercy. But Heismer only twisted his face into a sneer. “You trespassed in someone else’s orchard without permission, and on top of that you stole one of our beloved apples. Therefore you must receive divine punishment,” he said. He brought silver nitrate out from the hospital ward, thrust it before the eyes of the suffering boy tied to the tree, and said, “You do not know what this is, do you? I will teach you what it is.” Then he branded the character “thief” (盗) into the boy’s right cheek and the character “robber” (賊) into his left cheek.

The boy cried out from the pain and heat, whereupon Heismer burst into loud laughter as if it were amusing, stuffed a towel into the boy’s mouth, then whistled leisurely as he walked away. The scars on the boy’s cheeks bore the marks of Heismer’s cruelty, and did not disappear for several years.

Such was the missionary Heismer, who held the sacred office of a missionary. There is a saying, “Even demons have tears,” yet in his conduct we clearly see the true face of a missionary - no, an American - who did not shed even a single tear drop.

Seo Guk-tae who physically abused some beggars

On December 25, 1928 at around 7 a.m., when a biting north wind blew and the severe cold pierced the skin, a blind Korean female beggar, around forty years old, dressed in nothing but a tattered change of clothing and led by a child of about seven, came to the entrance of the luxurious residence in Jeonju City where an American missionary who went by the Korean name of Seo Guk-tae (서국태, 徐國泰) lived in opulence and indulgence. Despite being beggars in the last days of the year, they longed at least to greet the New Year with a single bowl of soup, and so they appealed for mercy to the man who daily preached charity and equality and spread the love of God.

What did he give them? A handful of silver coins? A bowl of warm soup for Christmas? Nothing of the sort. Instead, he poured a bucket of cold water on their heads. Shouting, “You still do not understand, do you? Bring a bucket full of cold water!” he again drenched the pair. This was the only gift he gave to the blind woman and her child, who sought mercy from the cold that bit their skin.

“How is that? Do you understand a little now? What do you think this place is, showing up brazenly in such filthy condition? Be gone at once!” he bellowed. In an instant, the freezing pain caused the beggar mother and child to scream in agony.

Seeing this, Seo struck the backs of the mother and child with his walking stick right at the entrance. Bright red blood dripped and stained the nearby snow crimson. This is it. This is their “charity” and “equality,” and the “mercy of Christ.”

Ok Seok-yeol who terrorized an elderly man with his automobile

In mid-May 1940, an American missionary who went by the Korean name of Ok Seok-yeol (옥석열, 玉錫烈) was driving his private automobile, with a certain Pastor Yutakayama accompanying him, en route to Yutakayama Church. As they drove, he noticed an elderly Korean man walking ahead; he increased his speed and closed in on the old man. As he approached, he suddenly sounded the horn loudly. Startled, the old man tried to get out of the way, but Ok deliberately drove the car further toward him. Terrified, the old man fell to the ground and screamed. At that moment, Ok brought his automobile to an abrupt stop, jumped out, struck the old man across the cheek, and kicked him in the hip. The old man sprang up and glared at Ok’s hairy face. “You old fool!” shouted Ok. Seeing that the man was an American missionary, the old man bowed respectfully and apologized.

“When a car comes, get down into that ditch! It was only because it was me that you were spared. But even if I ran you over, it might do some good since that would help me clean my car tires,” Ok said, as if it amused him, and boasted to Pastor Kaneyama that “they are like dogs or pigs; they will not understand unless they are made to suffer like this.”

[Transcription]

京城日報 1944年8月6日

悪鬼米人の正体 （１）
神の恵み飲め”蛇酢”
林檎一つで金少年の頬に烙印

敵アメリカは日本人を地球上から抹殺するのだ―、と不逞不企図をもってわれに戦争を挑発して来た。敵米兵残虐な行為は既に前線から報道されている如く、わが勇士の戦死した屍を愚弄し頭蓋骨をもって玩具を作った。武士道もなければ人道もない、ただ残忍で野蛮性一本がアメリカの正体だ。アメリカ兵のみではない。嘗て半島にも数多の米人宣教師が法衣を纏って人道を説き、世界平和を説いて純粋なる半島人をまんまと謀略の手をもって陥穽に追いこみ、その裏では人倫を逸脱した非道悪虐の行商を白々しくも行って来た。まさに天人俱に許さざるこの行商は聞く人をして痛憤無念の叫びを発せしめるのである。半島を汚瀆した悪鬼米人どもの数々の悪業をいまここに暴いて”米人の正体”をはっきりと掴み敵を討つ真剣の構えに限りなき憎しみを爆発させよう。

”朝鮮人は全部泥棒だ。そして賤しい動物である。朝鮮人を住わせるには自分の犬小屋ももったいない”と放言した。これが米英宣教師の朝鮮人観であった。甘やかされた半島人は宣教師こそは”神の子”だ、彼等こそ我我を幸福にしてくれる唯一のものだと彼等を慕い彼等を神の子だと盲信してきたのはつい先頃までだった。昭和十二年十月慶北安東邑に居を構え”天下をわが物”顔に聖経学院を経営していた米人宣教師ハロルド・ウオルケルの家に四十代の半島人女梁某は飯焚として雇われた。半島人梁某（四〇）は十月の半ば頃だった。彼女は物置に保管してあった酢甕の中に汚い蛇が一匹落込んで死んでいるのを発見した。彼女はすぐさま酢を棄てようとした。ウオルケルは顔色を変え何んの文句もなく彼女の頬をピシャッリと打った。そして彼はさるがら汚い物でもいじったという態でアルコールで丁寧に手を消毒した。それから彼はその蛇酢を聖経学院の女生徒のところへ持って行き、さももったいらしく”親愛なる姉妹よ、味の良い酢を贈ろう”と白々しくも言って蛇酢を女生徒に飲ませようとした。

女中の梁は心中はじめて怒った。犬扱いにされるとは知りながらも彼女は女学生達に死んだ蛇が酢の中にあったこと教えてやった。これを知ったウオルケルは女学生を集め、”神父が贈った酢を食べないとは何事だ。今にお前達は神の罰を受けるであろう”と脅迫した。揚句梁女を連れ出し、擲る、蹴る、暴虐の限りを尽くし毅然と”酢の中に蛇を入れたのはコイツだ。人でなしだ。天罰を与えなければならない”と彼女を暗い物置の隔に蹴り込んだ。賤しい動物だ。一日二日位食わんでも飲まんでも大丈夫。死にやしないと彼は数日間彼女に水一滴をも与えなかったのである。何という非道な振る舞いをする奴等だろうか。表面文化人を装い、平和を、平等を唱える奴等の正体はこれだ。

クライド・アルバート・ハイスマーは平安南道平原郡順安面の安息教経営順安病院の医師であり、且つまた宣教師であった。大正十四年八月十日病院の庭内の林檎園のリンゴは今が盛りとばかりに実り、部落の子供達の味覚をそそっていた。折しも暑さに耐えかね、林檎の樹の下で南昌里の金某少年（一三）が佇んでいた。その時腐りかけた一の林檎が落ちた。金少年はこれを拾い上げた。とたんに”この盗賊めっ”とハイスマーの毛むくじゃらの腕が金少年の後首をギュッと締めた。”殺す”と唯一言い、彼は金少年を林檎の樹に縛りつけた。金少年は全身の力をしぼって弁解をした。最後にはあわれみを乞うた。然しハイスマーはニヤリと顔をゆがめるのみ”他人の果樹園に無断で入りしかも我々の好きなリンゴをかっぱらったのであるからお前は天罰を受けなければならないと彼は病室から硝酸銀を持ち出し、縛りつけられ苦しんで居る金少年の眼の前に突き出し、”これは何か知って居るか判らんだろう。どういうものかお前に知らせてやろう”と金少年の右頬に”盗”左頬に”賊”と焼き付けた。少年は痛さと熱さの余り喚いた、と見るやハイスマーはさも面白げにゲラゲラと笑いタオルで口を塞いで悠々と口笛を鳴らしながら立ち去って、金少年の頬の傷は彼ハイスマーの残虐の痕を止め数年間消えなかったのである。

これが聖なる宣教師の任にあるハイスマーの宣教師であった。”鬼の眼にも涙”というが我々は彼の振舞に一滴の涙をもたぬ宣教師、いや米人の実体をはっきり見るのである。

時は昭和三年十二月二十五日、朔風すさび酷寒肌を刺す午前七時頃ボロボロの更衣一枚をまとった七歳位の子供に手を引かれた四十歳前後の盲目の朝鮮人女乞食が、全州府に豪壮なる邸宅を構え贅沢三昧の生活を楽しんでいる米人宣教師徐国泰（鮮名）の玄関先に来て恵を乞うた。もう師走乞食の身ながらせめて一杯のお汁ででも楽しかるべき正月を迎えんものと、日頃博愛平等を説き、神の愛を説き散らす彼に哀みを乞うた。

このとき彼が与えたものは何であったか、一握りの銀銭であったか、はたまたクリスマスのための温かいスープであったか、決してそんなものではなくバケツの冷水を頭の上からザアザアとぶっかけたのである。”これ位ではまだ判らんだろう。バケツ一杯に冷水を持ってこい”と怒鳴るや、またも二人に浴びせかけた。これが寒冷に肌と寒さのため恵を乞うた盲人と少年に与えた唯一の贈物であった。

”どうだ、少しはハッキリしたか。此処を何処だと思ってそういうけがらわしい姿でノコノコ現れるのだ。さっさと帰れ”と怒鳴りまくった。忽ち凍りつく痛さに乞食親子は悲鳴をあげて苦しんだ。

これを見るや徐は玄関先のステッキで親子の背中をピシャリピシャリと打った。真っ赤な血がたらたらと流れ辺の雪を真っ赤に染めた。これだ。これが彼等の博愛平等であり、キリストの慈悲なのだ。

昭和十五年五月中旬、慶北安東郡の米人宣教師玉錫烈（鮮名）は自家用自動車を運転し豊山某牧師を随え豊山教会へ走っていた途中先方を歩いている朝鮮人の老人を見るや彼はスピードをあげ、その老人に接近して行った。接近したと見るや俄に強く警笛を鳴らした。老人は驚きの余り避けようとすると彼は尚もわざとその方向へ自動車を進めた。老人は恐怖の余りその場に倒れ悲鳴をあげた瞬間、車を急停止しては飛び降りるや老人の頬を打った。腰の辺を蹴った。老人はカバっとはね起き毛むくじゃらの玉の顔をにらみつけた。”この老ぼれ―”と彼はどなりつけた。老人は米人の宣教師とみるやうやうやしく頭を下げて謝った。

”車が来たらあの溝へ下って居れ。俺だから助かったの、お前なんかがしかれったって車のタイヤの掃除にはなるがね”玉はさも面白そうに金山牧師に”奴等は犬や豚みたいなものだからね、こんな目に会わさなければ判らん”とうそぶいた。

Source: National Library of Korea, Digital Newspaper Archive