Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-07
PROPOSED REFORM IN KOREA
VINDICATIoN OF
WORK OF THE JAPANESE.
Law, Education and Administration,
It Is Claimed, Have Been Placed
on a Higher Plane.

The far eastern malls just arrived con-
tanned pamphlet issued from the Japanese
residency general of Korea, entitled "Ad-
mnistrative Reforms In Korea" designed
to vindicate the work Of the japanese in
:he Hermit kingdom under the authority
conferred by the Japan orea agreement
Of 1904. whereby Japan was constituted
advisory to Korea The document treats
OF the financial difficulties that confronted
Marquis Ito at the outset. owing to this
inadequacy of the Korean exchequer to
bear the cost OF reform. He succeeded In
raising a loan from the japan Industrial
Bank of 100000 yen. guaranteed by the
customs receipts. bearing interest at 6h
per cent and sold at % yen per 100 yen
The money realized was distributed In tina
reconstruction of roads. in building water
works. establishing an educational system,
the erection of banks and erection OF hos
pitfalls. 1t Is said that the Korean roads
were totally unit for horse and carriage
traffic, so that II became necessary 10 allot
1.JO0,0O yen IN laying out four great roads
to traverse the regions of best promise and
connect the best harbors and railway CEN
ters Even Chemulpo unable to
supply ships with drinking water and thet
inland towns were in serious danger OF
eDidemicS.
Educational Methods.
Prior to the residency there was In yoszua
village dominic called about him the chill
dren OF the neighborhood and taught them
the rudiments OF reading and writing.
There were 1000 Of these schools. and at
Seoul an institute Of higher Confuclan
learning. A primary school ordinance pro-
muigated in 1905 was a dead letter. An
entirely new system has been established
nrst Importance being given to dissemi-
mating common education under japanese
instructors.
The existing hospitals. defective in man.
and equipment. have been consolidated
into the .'Great Korean Hospital"
The police department. which had really
been In triplicate, has been unified.
OF the remarkable attempt at publication
OF the Imperial court. the pamphlet. after
painting striking picture Of tho corrup-
ton and the chianery and sioth that
adopted and says: In court circles there
were, no doubt some who at first felt
alarm at this radical turn Of affairs but
the sterling sincerity OF the resident gen.
eraIs solicftude becoming gradually bet
ter known, the force OF resentment has
since lackened. until no voice is now heard
In active opposition.
3, Administration Of Justice.
The way in: which justice had been ad-
ministered IN Korea" II Is asserted lii
too revolving to all sense Of decency to be
told In detail" 1t is charged that the
country has not yet attained that stage
when the executive and judicial branches
are independent. so that the administration
of justice is regarded a privilege to be
farmed out; bribery Is general; innocent
people are convicted and their property
confiscated and the guilty are liberated.
All this. says the pamphlet. is being re-
formed by the japanese.
The work OF reforming the currency sys-
tenn has progressed. the gold standard be-
ing adopted and private coinage prohibited
while the circulation Of notes has been
encouraged and q new revenue system
adopted
In closing, the pamphlet says the Jap
anese have provided the Koreans with a
code OF laws (among other things safe
guarding the transfer of real estate for :
merly without any protection) regulating
the development OF native mines providing
for the protection Of immigrants and en-
couraging the development Of productive
industries.