Choi Nam-son's Record of Travels on Korea during the Colonial Period
Ryu, Si-Hyun
Mass travel or touring is a kind of symbol of the modern. Though the train and steamship, the Western had traveled the non-Western area such as Asia, Africa, South America. Their travel books composed with exotic observation based on the Orientalism. Comparing with the Colonizer's view, the colonized's traveling book focused on their culture and history with non-prejudice. Among them, I examine Choi Nan-son and his record of travels during the colonial period.
First of all, his interest of travel or touring was the means of physical training and Enlightenment. He encouraged the 'boys' who will be the core of the future Korea nation. After that, his traveling books connected with Korean culture and history which called the 'Korean Studies'. Especially, when he had gone both the Bak-du Mt. and the Kumkang Mt., he always interested in Korea's ancient history. After the middle of 1930's, Choi was changed as the collaborator of Imperial Japan. At that time, he supported Japan's Imperial war such as the Manchuria aggression in 1931 and the Second Sino-Japanese War in 1937. His traveling articles was focused on the Japan's main historical role in the East-Asia area.
Choi denied his theory on the Korean studies which was produced during from 1900s to 1920s. The political key role of Northeast Asia was changed Korea into Japan based on the theory on the ancient East-Asia history. He agreed with Japan's the theory of Pan-Asian coprosperity and encouraged Korean peasant and intellectuals to collaborate Imperial Japan who lived in Manchuria. He also encouraged Korean university students heartily to entry into the Pacific War. Chio was changed into pro-Japanese in 1940s.