The Korean Church Under Japanese Colonialism

It deals with the relationship between the Korean Church and state under Japanese colonial rule. It explores the characters of the new Korean Church and its response to the adversity that their nation faced from the late Joseon dynasty to the Japanese colonial rule from 1910 to 1945. It focuses on how the Korean church copes with the Japanese conspiracy case in 1911 with the March First Independence Movement and the issue of Shinto Shrine worship. Christianity was introduced in Korea at the end of the 19th century. Japanese Imperialism soon followed. The Korean Protestant church was recognized as an independent organization, which is why the Japanese government targeted it and prosecuted 105 people. During the March First Independence Movement, 16 of the 33 national leaders were Christians. The Korean church participated to the March First Independence Movement throughout country, and it suffered the most damages. At the end of the 1930's, the Japanese government forced Koreans to worship the Shinto Shrine in an attempt to crush the Korean national spirit. It was some Christians to protest the Japanese Shinto nationalism. About 50Christians those who protested became martyrs. Korean Christians showed their beliefs to do the right thing for their country.