해방 후 재일조선인과 암시장

A Study on the Economic Activities of the Koreans in Japan after Liberation －focused on commodities of the Black Markets－

Defeated in World War II, the war-oriented Japanese industries collapsed and led to a mass unemployment. The Koreans in Japan who mainly worked in those industries confronted an overall unemployment and they desperately looked for a means of living. Under that circumstances, the black markets sprout up and the Koreans had no choice but to engaged in. The majority of Koreans, who didn t have particular skills and educations, with small amount of capital, could manage to get into the black markets. They mainly worked as individual delivery services and street vendors. The Koreans who couldn t get into the regular job market, so no way to survive except attached to the lowest part of the black markets. This study is focused on the commodities which explains the present characteristics of the Zainichi society largely originated from the black markets after Liberation. For instance, Korean traditional starch syrup candy, rice wine(Makgeolli), edible intestines were largely accepted by the Japanese who hadn t had that sort of convention. Meanwhile, people who had experienced as factory technicians or with reasonable assets could have opportunities to start up their own business. Among those people, some could make a great capital from the business and get a chance to move to other profitable business. The experience of the black markets had provided the development of Zainichi business in particular area. For instance, some specific manufacturing such as rubber, textile, metal and machinery, and plastic business which sprouted during those period strongly related with the black markets and the relationship has been continued up to the present. And YAKINIKU(Korean style barbecue) and PACHINKO(Japanese style slot machine) which have become the typical industry of the Koreans in Japan were derived from the black markets. After all, the history of the Koreans in the black markets is not only reflection of economic activities, but also profound relevance with the overall post-war circumstances. The black markets were also the stage of fierce survival for both of the Japanese and the Korean. Regarding the issue of the black markets and serious post-war economy brought one of the controversial political arguments.