Colonial Politics On Public Space Under Japanese Rule: Yookcho Street Of Seoul

Year 2021, Volume: 9 Issue: 1, 34 - 48, 16.06.2021

Esengul Danısan

Abstract

Yookcho Street located at the very heart of Seoul, has been witnessed the urbanisation history of Seoul since it was formed as the main north-south axis of the Joseon dynasty. For almost 600 years, it has been a significant stage where multiple strata of power relations, conflict of interests are gathered. The most pivotal turning point of Yookcho Street was to experience a process of colonisation and modern urbanisation under the rule of Japanese from 1910 until 1945. Through Japanese government socio-spatial arrangements Yookcho Street turned into a modern boulevard and became a stage symbolising the colonial power by conveying the important political message of the Japanese Empire. This paper aims to examine the socio-spatial policies of Japanese colonial rule through focusing on the transformation of the Street into a modern boulevard serving as an imperial showcase.

Keywords

: Yookcho Street, Seoul, the Joseon dynasty, Japanese colonial rule, assimilation

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