Japanese Occupation (1910–1945)

The Japanese colonial rule over Korea from 1910 to 1945 is the darkest chapter in Korean history — and a wound that has not fully healed to this day. Japan annexed Korea, banned the Korean language and culture, forced Koreans to adopt Japanese names, and employed hundreds of thousands as forced laborers.

Particularly painful: The issue of "comfort women" — Korean women and girls forced into prostitution by the Japanese army. The statue of a "comfort girl" in front of the former Japanese embassy in Seoul is one of the city's most emotional monuments. A vigil has been held here every Wednesday since 1992.

March 1, 1919 (Samiljeol, Independence Movement) is a national holiday: Millions of Koreans took to the streets peacefully to protest against colonial rule. The uprising was brutally suppressed, but it ignited the Korean spirit of independence, which never extinguished.

The relationship between Korea and Japan remains complex to this day — politically tense, culturally intertwined. Important for travelers: The topic is emotional, and respect for the Korean perspective is appreciated.