Pak Chungyang

Korean politician (1872–1959)

In this Korean name, the family name is  Bak.

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Pak Chungyang

Privy Councillor for the Governor-General of Korea
In office
1927–1939
Governors‑General| Ugaki Kazushige
Yamanashi Hanzō
Saitō Makoto
Jirō Minami
Governor of Hwanghae Province
In office
1928–1928
Governor‑General| Yamanashi Hanzō
In office
1921–1923
Governor‑General| Saitō Makoto
Governor of North Chungcheong Province
In office
1923–1925
Governor‑General| Saitō Makoto
Personal details
Born| (1872-05-04)May 4, 1872
Junae-myeon, Yangju, Gyeonggi Province, Joseon
Died| April 23, 1959(1959-04-23) (aged 86)
Chimsan-dong, Daegu, South Korea
Children| Bak Mun-wung, Bak Mu-wung, Bak Jeong-ja

Korean name

Hangul|

박중양

Hanja|

朴重陽

Revised Romanization| Bak Jungyang
McCune–Reischauer| Pak Chungyang
Art name
Hangul|

해악 or 일소

Hanja|

海岳 or 一笑

Revised Romanization| Haeak or Ilso
McCune–Reischauer| Haeak or Ilso
Courtesy name
Hangul|

Hanja|

Revised Romanization| Wongeun
McCune–Reischauer| Wŏn'gŭn
Japanese name

Hochu Segeyo
Kanji| 朴忠重陽
Yamamoto Shin
Kanji| 山本信

Pak Chungyang (Korean: 박중양; May 3, 1872 – April 23, 1959) was a Korean bureaucrat and politician in the Japanese colonial government. His art names were Haeak (해악) and Ilso (일소), and his courtesy name was Wongeun (원근). He also had the Japanese names Shigeyō Hōchū (朴忠重陽), Jūyō Boku (朴 重陽) and Shin Yamamoto (山本 信).[1] Pak was Governor of the prefecture Kōkai Prefecture from 1921 to 1923 and in 1928. He was also governor of Chūseihoku Prefecture from 1923 to 1925.[2]

Pak went abroad to Japan to study and later returned to become a bureaucrat in his country. He was appointed as the Mayor of Daegu and the deputy Governor of North Gyeongsang Province from 1906 to 1907. Later, he succeeded sequentially in the positions of Governor of Phyeongannamto, South Jeolla Province, North Gyeongsang Province, Phyeonganpukto and South Chungcheong Province. Pak was involved in the Japan–Korea Treaty of 1910 and opposed the March First Movement. He also founded the Refrain Club.[3]

He demolished the castle of Daegueup and the Old Gyungsangdo Provincial Office, and contributed to city planning and road maintenance in Daegu. He also participated in the destruction of the Castle of Jinju. He was a conscientious Japanese colonial supporter with pro-Japanese group ideology as well as an advocate for civil rights.

Pak was pro-Japanese, and was later named a collaborator ("chinilpa") after World War II.

## Early life

[edit]

Pak Chungyang was born on May 3, 1872, in Junae-myeon in Yangju County, Gyeonggi Province, Joseon. He was the second son of Pak Jeong-ho (박정호, 朴鼎鎬; 1840 – September 22, 1892) and Lady Yi of the Jeonju Yi clan (April 21, 1845 – July 12, 1929). The origin of his family is unknown, but it is speculated that he either came from the Miryang Park clan (밀양 박씨) or the Bannam Park clan (반남 박씨). His father supervised a rent farm and leased it out as well. He had three brothers; one older brother and two younger brothers.

In his adolescence, he joined the Independence Club, but it was dispersed due to the repression of the Korean Empire. This caused Pak to be disappointed and left him with a bad feeling against the Korean Empire.

In March 1894, the Korean Empire employed and dispatched assassins to Japan and China. In Shanghai, China Kim Ok-kyun, a reform minded activist, was murdered by assassin Hong Jong-u. Kim's body was turned over to a Chinese warship, where it was dismembered. Parts of his body were put on public display in several towns in Korea as a traditional humiliation and punishment for treason. When Hong returned to Korea he was appointed to high office. Pak grew an extreme hatred towards the Korean Empire and the people of Korea.

### International study

[edit]

From an early age, he wanted to go abroad to Japan. In 1897, he was selected as a Korean state student to study abroad in Japan. Pak supported himself during his studies because his family was poor. From 1897 to 1900, he studied in Aoyama middle school. In 1900, he entered Dokyo buki high school as a banking major.[4] Then, he added a double major in Japanese police studies there.[4] After the graduation, Pak adopted Neo-Confucianism and the 'Theory of the national prosperity and the military power' from Ito Hirobumi.

At the time, he chose the Japanese name Yamamoto Shin. Pak also became a Japanese petty bureaucrat. He tried to introduce the parliamentary system to the Imperial Korean government, but the Korean government refused.[5]

In 1903, he returned and passed the probation period as a civil officer of Imperial Korea. After returning to Korea, Pak continued to advocate a pro-Japanese position.

## Career

[edit]

### Korean Empire era

[edit]

Russo-Japanese War

In 1903, Pak successfully filled various government posts, and was also appointed as a staff of the Public Administration Agency. In 1905, he served as a military interpreter during the Russo-Japanese War.[6] In November 1905, he was appointed to the staff of the Farming, Commerce and Industry Department. He resigned when the Japan–Korea Treaty of 1905 was signed. On May 5[year needed], he was appointed as an engineer of the National Defense Department (군부;軍部) engineer, and accompanied Prince Yi Kang to go to Japan.[7] Two months later, he returned to his country.

Pak Chungyang (1907.06)

In 1906, Pak was promoted to Governor of Daegu County.[8] Then, after a short period, he was promoted again to the Acting Governor of the North Gyeongsang Province. During the term, Pak tore down the castle of Daegueup without official permission[9][10] He secretly hired Japanese workers to tear down the structure.[11] also Pak was lay out a new street.[12] In early 1906, he applied for permission from the Korean government, but it was refused. The government tried to punish him for the action, but he acquired protection from Ito Hirobumi.[9] Later, he modernized the Daegu city planning and road maintenance.

He strove in building modern hospitals, medical schools and colleges, and successfully built the Dojin hospital and its affiliated medical school. He was also a supporter of the free press, including journals which satirized him. His idea was that the freedom of the press is a must to supervise the government.

In 1907, he became a governor of Phyeongannamto and Phyeonganpukto, and in 1910, the Governor of South Chungcheong Province.

### Japanese rule

[edit]

Pak Chungyang at the time of his service as Governor of North Chungcheong Province

When the Japan–Korea Treaty of 1910 was signed in August 1910, Pak remained as the Governor of Chungcheongnam-do until 1915. From 1916 to 1920, he was a member of Japanese Government-General of Korea's Privy Council. In 1919, he opposed the March First Movement,[13] and founded the Refrain club on 6 April in response.[3] Pak was hindrance and dissuade, advice of go home of demonstrato of March First Movement.[13] His old friends Seo Jae-pil and Yun Chi-ho cut off relations with him due to this.

Pak Chungyang, 1923

He was appointed as the Governor of Kōkai Prefecture in 1921, and the Governor of Chūseihoku Prefecture in 1923 to 1925. After the 1923 Great Kantō earthquake and subsequent Kantō Massacre, he appealed to the Japanese government to release the arrested Koreans, and asserted that the Koreans were not involved in the criminal cases which occurred during the earthquake. In November 1924, he was accused in a sex abuse scandal, but the accuser woman suddenly died; three years later, the charge against him was dismissed. In 1928, he was re-appointed as the Governor of Kōkai Prefecture.

He governed the civilians through a regulated bureaucracy system, often with warning and several days of confinement instead of punishment, and suppressed the power of the Japanese police and soldiers to harass civilians, even putting them in confinement as well. Sometimes, the bureaucrats were imprisoned, but the Japanese police never arrested him, because he was especially trusted by the Japanese Governor-General of Korea, which pleased many Joseon people.

### World War II era

[edit]

Pak Chungyang, later 1930's

In 1927 to 1939, he was a member of Japanese Government-General of Korea's Privy Council; and in 1936, the advisor of Japanese Government-General of Korea's Privy Council.[8] Seven years later, he was elected as the vice-chairman of the council. In 1940, he changed name to Hōchū Segeyō as per the Japanese Sōshi-kaimei.

On October 22, 1941, he was appointed as the adviser of the Fight-patriotic of Joseon Group, which merged with the Peoples Mind Alliance in January 1943.[7] During the Asia-Pacific War, he contributed to encourage and comfort the Japanese troops, as in 1942 and 1943, when he was sent to console the Japanese troops stationed in Singapore. In 1943, he was appointed as Vice-Chairman of Japanese Government-General of Korea's Privy Council. On 3 April 1945, he was elected as a congressman in the House of Peers.[4]

Due to his cooperation with the Japanese Empire and the Japanese Governor-General of Korea, he was listed as a Pro-Japanese collaborators in Korea by the Institute for Research in Collaborationist Activities in 2008.

## Later years

[edit]

Arrest of Pak Chungyang (1949)

Korea was liberated on August 15, 1945, after the end of World War II, but Pak stayed in Daegu. He mocked the Korean independence activists for talking about their heroic deeds in the independence battle.

After October 1945, as some pro-Japanese group begged for their lives, he ridiculed Korean resistance activists. On January 1, 1949, he was arrested by the Special Investigation Committee of Anti-National Activities and charged under the National Traitor Law.[14] But, Pak maintained his innocence at the court and stood by his pro-Japanese beliefs.

> The Joseon dynasty was society of more darkness, Japanese ruled time was reformed of modern Korea. The goal for civil servants was social welfare. Japanese ruled time was "squeeze the peoples blood's", it's assert that also unaware of politics meaning, prejudice of causeless Japanese hates.[3]

In February 1949, he was released on bail due to bronchial pneumonia and asthma. Later, he continued to criticize President Syngman Rhee, Kim Ku, Lee See-yeong and Ham Tae-yeong as "patrioteers". In 1955, Rhee tried to confine Pak to a So-ju-yeong psychiatric hospital and Seoul Seongmo psychiatric hospital, but failed. Pak Chungyang died Chimsan Mountine, in Daegu on April 23, 1959, due to pneumonia. the cause of death is lung disease and Senile disease.

## Personal life

[edit]

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### Family

[edit]

One version says he was an adopted son of Itō Hirobumi.[8][14] But in 1948, he spoke to some press company and confirmed it was a lie.[15] He referred to Itō as "My respected teacher".[15]

He had a wife named Yi Ju-yeol (이주열, 李主悅/李柱烈; 4 March 1870 – 20 May 1960), who was a member of the royal Jeonju Yi clan, and four sons and three daughters. His first son Park Mun-ung (박문웅, 朴文雄; December 7, 1890 – 14 August 1959) was the succeeding mayor of Cheongdo, Cheongsong, Sangju, and Dalseong County in North Gyeongsang Province in 1940s. It is unknown when his second son Park Mu-ung (박무웅; 朴武雄) died and his other children died, but his third son had and was survived by his daughter, Park Du-sun (박두순; 朴斗順).

His granddaughter, Park Mun-ung's daughter, Park Bu-nam (박부남, 朴富南; December 6, 1931 – January 1, 2018) was a pediatrician and internist, she was a university professor at the College of Medicine of Kyungpook National University, Keimyung University. Park Bu-nam eventually married Yi Yeol-hui (이열희, 李烈熙; 18 December 1924 – 9 August 2012) who was a member of the Gyeongju Yi clan. Yi Yeol-hui is a dentist and plastic surgeon, Yi was a university professor of College of Medicine of Kyungpook National University and nephew of poet Yi Sang-hwa and resistance activists Yi Sang-jeong, politician Yi Sang-baek.

Pak Chungyang had a daughter, Park Jeong-ja (박정자, 朴政子; 1936–?), with an unnamed Japanese concubine who was born in 1909.[16]

### Pet name

[edit]

Satirical cartoon of Pak Chungyang's Stick

He had "Stick Mr. Pak" (박작대기/박짝대기) as his pet name.[17] The pet name was selected as such because Pak always carried a long stick, sometime called the "Enlightened Stick".[17]

### Other

[edit]

For decades, Pak regularly wrote in his diary every day,[14] which was stored in 20 boxes. Pak's diary was captured when he was arrested by the Special Investigation Committee of Anti-National Activities.[14] Even after being release Pak didn't get his diary back. Pak wrote a memoir "Sulhoe", copy paper of some diary and his memories.

## Books

[edit]

* 《Pak Chungyang's Diary》(박중양일기; 朴重陽日記)
* 《Sulhoe》(술회; 述懷)
* 《Sinnyeon sogam》(신년소감; 新年所感)
* 《Pokdosa pyeonjip jaryo》(폭도사편집자료; 暴徒史編輯資料; 1907)

## Gallery

[edit]

* Pak Chungyang (1941)

* Pak Chungyang (Jan 1949)

* Pak Chungyang (Jun 1907)

* Pak Chungyang (1908)

* Pak Chungyang (1925)

* Pak Chungyang (1932)

* Pak Chungyang and one jounarists (1935)

* Report of Demolition Daegu Castle (Oct 1906)

* A Handwriting letter to Emperor Kojong (Nov 1, 1909)

* A calligraphy art (Nov 30, 1933)

* A calligraphy art, send to Hoseo News (Mar 1, 1932)

* Holographic Report of Business trip orders (1938)

* News of Refrain club, his founding club (Apr 16, 1919)

## See also

[edit]

* Korea under Japanese rule
* Ito Hirobumi
* Yun Chi-ho
* Seo Jae-pil
* Refrain club
* Yu Kil-chun
* Yun Chi-oh
* Russo-Japanese War
* Kim Ok-gyun
* Syngman Rhee
* Kim Ok-gyun
* Kim Kyu-sik

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ 경상감영 정문 '영남포정사 ' 원래 모습 찾아냈다. Idaegumail news (in Korean). 10 January 2012. Archived from the original on 17 May 2017. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
2. ^ Pak Chungyang Archived 2014-04-07 at the Wayback Machine (in Korean)
3. ^ a b c "일제가 현대 조선 개신" 해방후에도 망발…친일파 박중양] 매일신문. Idaegumail news (in Korean). 25 January 2010. Archived from the original on 17 May 2017. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
4. ^ a b c Pak Chungyang
5. ^ Institute for Research in Collaborationist Activities, 《National issues Institute 9》(Seoul: Institute for Research in Collaborationist Activities, 1996) pp. 16
6. ^ Pak Chungyang (in Korean)
7. ^ a b 박중양 [Pak Chungyang]. 100.nate.com (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2013-04-11. Retrieved 2013-03-16.
8. ^ a b c Pak Chungyang Archived 2012-12-20 at archive.today (in Korean)
9. ^ a b "[역사속의 영남사람들 .11] 박중양]". TheYoungnamilbo. 9 March 2004. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
10. ^ 대구읍성 '성돌' 찾아 '퍼즐 맞추기' Archived 2023-09-11 at the Wayback Machine Hangyeorye 2008.02.12. (in Korean)
11. ^ [문화재 & 문화] "영치기 영차" 매일신문 2008.03.15. (in Korean)
12. ^ [한국 도시디자인 탐사](9)대구읍성 해체와 식민도시화 경향신문 2007.11.01. (in Korean)
13. ^ a b 친일중의 친일 '3·1운동 자제단'은 누구? The Hangyeolye 2010.03.01 (in Korean)
14. ^ a b c d "해방이 1년만 늦었어도 황국신민 대우를..." 오마이뉴스 2004.09.11. (in Korean)
15. ^ a b 현암조상원추모문집간행위원회, 《현암 조상원》 (현암사, 2001) 381페이지
16. ^ "秘話(비화) 한 世代(세대) (217) 反民特委(반민특위) [71] 餘話(여화)". NAVER Newslibrary. Retrieved 2020-12-30.
17. ^ a b "[문화칼럼] 大邱城(대구성)을 짓자". Idaegumail news (in Korean). 7 September 2012. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 19 August 2015.

## References

[edit]

* Bak Eungyung(1999), 일제하 조선인관료 연구, Seoul, Korea: Hakminsa.
* 반민족문제연구소(1993), 친일파 99인 1, Seoul, Korea: Dolbegye. ISBN 8971990112.
* Lim Jong-guk(1991), 실록 친일파, Seoul, Korea: Dolbegye. ISBN 9788971990360.
* 민족경제연구소(1948), 친일파 군상, Seoul, Korea: 삼성출판사.
* 일제말~해방~한국戰 잔혹사 Archived 2018-02-04 at the Wayback Machine
* Jeong Jae-yong(2008), 빙이화 (상, 하), Seoul, Korea:Hansome media
* Daqinfo(2003), 부끄러운 문화 답사기, Seoul, Korea:Bookis

## External links

[edit]

Wikisource has original text related to this article:

Pak Chungyang

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Park Jung-yang.

* Pak Chungyang (in Korean)
* Pak Chungyang (in Korean)
* Pak Chungyang (in Korean)
* Pak Chungyang:Korea historical person information (in Korean)
* 大邱の近代化-朴重陽 (in Japanese)
* 日本帝國勅選貴族院議員一覽 (in Japanese)
* "일제가 현대 조선 개신" 해방후에도 망발…친일파 박중양 Archived 2017-05-17 at the Wayback Machine i-Daegumail news 2010. 01.25 (in Korean)
* 순종의 남행에는 친일파 뿐이었다 The Dailian News 2010.01.30 (in Korean)
* "순종 남행이 박중양의 정치적 입지 높여" The Dailian News 2010.01.30 (in Korean)
* 친일중의 친일 '3·1운동 자제단'은 누구? The Hangyeolye 2010.03.01 (in Korean)

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF

National|

* Japan