Theory of ethnic reform

Japanese: 民族改造論 - みんぞくかいぞうろん

This is an editorial that Lee Kwang-soo published in the Korean-language general magazine Kaibyaku in May 1922 after the failure of the March 1st Independence Movement. Following the ideas of Ahn Chang-ho, who emphasized the cultivation of character as a prerequisite for national independence, he advocated the spiritual reform of Koreans. However, it was criticized by other commentators for emphasizing the "inferiority" of the Korean people. Although "Theory of Reforming the Nation" expressed Lee's ideas as a reformist nationalist, later, when Lee became pro-Japanese, it also became synonymous with the idea that "inferior" Koreans should be made into Japanese.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

李光洙が三･一独立運動挫折後の1922年5月，朝鮮語の総合雑誌《開闢（かいびやく）》に発表した論説。彼は，民族独立の前提としての人格修養を力説する安昌浩の考えに従って，朝鮮人の精神的な改造を説いた。しかし朝鮮民族の〈劣等性〉を強調した論説であるとして，他の論者から批判を受けた。《民族改造論》は改良的民族運動家としての李の考えを示したものだが，その後李が親日派に転ずるにいたって，〈劣等〉な朝鮮人を日本人化せよとする考えの代名詞ともなった。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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