Evening star., 1923-08-27
EAST is EAST
BY FRANK H. HEDGES

New blood IL coursing through the
veins of the people of Korea, the
blood of determination TO help
themselves. to exert every effort to
take advantage of their opportunities,
"A determination which will carry
them up the long hill to "a place in
the SUM- and give the ancient Hermit
kingdom a future In the true sense
of the word. A nation that long lay
In slumber, that earned the title of
the Land of Morning Calm" is awak-
ening and is no longer content to drift
idly through the passing years. but
seeks to build itself into tower of
strength. How this has come about Is
open to discussion, but the fact re-
mains that among the Korean people
development is under way that is
a genuine expression of a greater life.
greater activity and a greater in
terest on the part of the Koreans them
selves.
Three explanations from three sep
arate schools Of thought are offered
Some say the present stimulus is the
result of the movement for inde-
pendence, movement born or the ac-
quisition of the country by the empire
Of Japan and of certain methods pur-
sued by the Japanese in it's govern
ment Some attribute it to the abil-
ity and personality of the present
governor general, who seems truly to
have the interests of the Korean peo-
pie at heart and to sympathize with
them in their aims and aspirations.
Others say that il is merely Il mani
festation in the far east of the gen
world
of the war.
Whatever the cause, certain it is that
the Koreans are awakened to the
advantages of exerting themselves
and of grasping their opportunities.
This interest is especially TO be
noticed in the field : of education.
While it is true that the Koreans
have always made much of their
schools, every such institution is
crowded today and the demand for an
education is at fever heat. 1t may
be due in part to the fact that the
existing schools are better than any
the land has known in the past. but
the explanation lies deeper than that.
The Korean seeks an education in
order to better himself and that he
tremendous handicap under which the
ignorant labor, and would overcome
this handicap for himself.
greater freedom of expression eX-
lists at present than was formerly the
case, as is shown by the larger num-
ber of periodicals published in the
Korean language. Six years ago but
one daily newspaper was printed in
Korean, and IL was without influence
or following, since II was generally
regarded as subsidized paper. A
few missionary magazines completed
the little group of Korean language
publications at that time. On the
shelves of one bookshop in Seoul to-
day are twentythree periodicals
printed In Korean. covering a wide
range of subjects, from labor organs
to genuine literary magazines of
merit. A strict press law imposed
by Japan is in operation and the
Korean press is far from free, but at
that ii has made tremendous strides
in independence. worth and volume.
On the day that one Korean paper
should have issued its 2S5th number it
actually published the 23Sth; the others
had been suppressed.
y y
Another Indication of the fact that
| the Koreans have decided ito do il
themselves" is the interest they are
taking in business. One store in the
Korean capital is owned, managed and
operated entirely by women. The
patronage. however, is confined to
them, and more men than women
are among its buyers. 1t was only a
few years ago that no woman ap-
peared on the streets of Seoul except
behind a heavy veil.
Today the streets of the city are
more nearly like those of the west
than are the streets of any city to
| be found in Japan proper. Wide,
we'll paved thoroughfares make pos
sible the traffic of many automobiles
and street cars link the residential
districts with the business section.
| A curious mixture of Korean. Jap
aneSe and English is heard as the
throngs stream from the modern
| hotel to the modern railway station.
! The gate that leads out of the capi-
tai to the pass through the noun
tains in the direction of China has
it was the Tribute Gate" for
| through it passed the ENJOYS of the
vassal King of Korea on their way
to the throne of the Son of Heaven
in Picking. The japanese considered
| rechristening the gate once again,
! but the wisdom of the governor gen
eral prevented such an action that
would have stirred the hatred of the
people against those who now control
the peninsula
| There is no question but that
| Korea has prospered materially un-
| der the rule of Japan. Evidences of
| this prosperity in the shape of i'm
proved living conditions, increased
|
are everywhere 10 be seen. There
still remains the question of whether
| this growth in material prosperity is
sufficient and of such a nature as TO
| compensate for the loss of independ-
ence. Foreign observers in the coun-
| try. as nearly impartial judges as 1t
\ is possible to get, are divided in
| theiD opinions. Merchants and busi-
ness men generally believe the dom
| ination of Japan to be a good thing
| missionaries and teachers in the main
| deplore it.
Perhaps it is still too early to sit
in judgment and pronounce a final
and irrevocable sentence. When the
| United States thinks of Korea the
| Philippines must also be kept in
mind We ourselves do not question
our good intentions there, but the
outsider has a right to reserve his
| opinion until those intentions have
| borne a more definite fruit than al
present That fruit may not yet be
ripe but it is possible to watch its
| development toward maturity. In
| the Philippines may be seen also d
greatly improved material situation
an increased interest in education
and the stirring into life of a ma
| tional consciousness. Japan, unlike
this country, has never promised
Korea her independence at some in
| definite future date. Therein lies the
fundamental difference in the other.