FROM MODERNIZATION TO COLLABORATION, THE DILEMMA OF KOREAN CULTURAL 
NATIONALISM: THE CASE OF YUN CH'I-HO (1865-1945).

   This study offers an analysis of the reasons for the collaboration of
Yun Ch'i-ho with the Japanese occupation authorities during the
colonisation of the Korean peninsula. The case of Yun Ch'i-ho merits our
attention as he is known in Korea both as a great patriot for his
activities as President of the Independence Club (1896-98) and
Editor-in-Chief of the Independent as well as a a traitor of the nation
for his collaboration during the latter part of the occupation period. In
addition to this, he has left us with a diary covering the period
1883-1943, thereby offering us his explanation for his evolution from a
patriot to a collaborator. 

   The dissertation is divided in two parts. The first part deals with Yun
Ch'i-ho's biography. Rather than to concentrate solely on the personal
history of Yun Ch'i-ho, the broader historical context has been taken into
account. Special attention was paid to the Government-General policies and
how they gradually restricted all expressions of a separate Korean
national identity. 

   The second part consists of an analysis of Yun Ch'i-ho's thought in as
far as it is relevant to his eventual collaboration. Four aspects of his
thought appear to be crucial in understanding his conversion to a
pro-Japanese attitude. First of all, he took an appreciative attitude
towards the Meiji Reforms and how these succeeded in making Japan a power
equal to the Major (Western) Powers. His fundamental admiration for Japan
never really changed, even though he had many misgivings about Japan's
colonisation policy in Korea. 

   Rather than to blame Japan for its highhanded colonial policies, Yun's
social-Darwinist world view made him blame Korea for its weakness. Yun saw
social-Darwinism at work when looking at international politics. He was
convinced that the world was governed by the strong at the detriment of
the weak. Unless a nation proved to be strong, it could await nothing but
hardship. 

   A third pillar of his thought was his Christian faith. In relation to
his collaboration, his faith was instrumental in making him a law-abiding
citizen. His faith also helped him quiet his conscience. His trust in
Divine Providence made him accept reality as God's Plan, incomprehensible
to man. 

   Finally, we have tried to piece together Yun's nation concept. Though
he did collaborate with the Government-General, he also remained committed
to the future of the Korean nation. Yun's ideal, under the circumstances,
was cultural autonomy under Japanese political rule. Yun was not convinced
that only political independence guaranteed the future existence of the
Korean nation. On the contrary, he thought political independence was only
feasable after an extended period of cultural strengthening. 

   With such an ideological state of mind, and taking into account Yun's
weak personality, it is obvious that, given the historical circumstances,
Yun's collaboration can be termed inevitable. 

Koen De Ceuster