해방 직후 적산처리 논쟁과 대일배상요구의 출발

Argument about Handling Enemy Property Right after Liberation and Start of Claim for Compensation against Japan

The debate about enemy property began with that US Military Government permitted Japanese to trade their private properties, which were taken for granted to be reverted to the Korean Government. The Korean insisted enemy property be confiscated and nationalized because it was resulted from Japan’s exploitation from Korean people. Especially, the assertion that enemy property fell short of the price of exploitation became the ground of claim for compensation of Korea. Nevertheless, when the US and the Allies’ policy that enemy property in Korea would be covered for Japan’s compensation for the Allies was spread, the Korean appealed that enemy property must be compensated to Korea because it should be economic basis of independence as Korean clumped blood body. The transfer of enemy property management right made Korean be outraged more. US Military Government took measures to transfer all authorities of enemy property to US advisor through the decree(1946.12.31). Consequently Korean officers of US Military Government, lawmakers as well as parties opposed this action together. Although US Military Government, which was suspected of authenticity of administrative power transfer, backed down and the decree was revised, but were left grounds for quarrel in that the transfer should be finally approved of US advisor. In the second half 1947, US Military Government clarified the disposal of enemy property, and opinions of Korean people were divided into two. The right wing agreed with the sale of medium & small industry and nationalization of conglomerate companies. On the other hand, the left wing opposed the sale of enemy property from socialist revolution point of view. They asserted that the sale of enemy property would be in confrontation with people’s regime and economy of Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. But as the Allies’ compensation claim against Japan grew noticeably weaken, the Korean who developed the movement of enemy property’s revert to Korea and opposition aginst its sale directly started the campaign of reparation of Japan against the Allies. The demand for compensation of Korea was converted to Japan’s own compensation policy with the treaty of peace with Japan. Their logic was that Korea must be compensated and enemy property should be basis of economic independence when government would be established because it was the result of exploitation from Korean people. The Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Chosun insisted political independence could be made only by economic independence and construction of economy in Chosun could not be realized without Japan’s compensation. Accordingly the Chamber prepared items to ask for compensation against Japan. The written petition was gathering demands and contents from all levels of society after Liberation, and it is worthy of start of claim for reparation of Japan of Korean Government.