A right way to help readers understand history

The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration article on June 18 was fascinating mainly for its captivating photos. The article first begins with a brief introduction of Japan’s oppressive rule over the social, political and economic life of the Korean Peninsula in the early 1900s. The introduction clears up confusion on what these pictures portray or what the article may be about.

Anyone with general knowledge of Japanese oppression during the 1900s could tell what the article concentrates on by looking at the pictures, which display the harsh life that Koreans faced during this period. They helped me a lot to understand what the Koreans felt during that time.

Most people know about Japanese discrimination of the Koreans during this time mainly through words, but not many know to what level of severity it was in vivid images. I hope that the Korea JoongAng Daily continues to issue articles related to this subject because it gets me to learn more about Korean history as well as to sympathize. Continuing to issue such articles would get more people to understand this section of Korean history and many will be incited to spread awareness of the knowledge that they have.

Being a Korean-American that has lived mostly in the United States, I know for a fact that history classes do teach about the Japanese oppression of Korea, but unfortunately this subject tends to be skimmed over and merely be a minimal factor within the class. I plan to inform my friends about what I now know from the article.

Hopefully, I will be able to teach others of what impact the Japanese oppression really had on the Korean people rather than reading brief texts written in a history textbook. Recently right-wing Japanese politicians have been vociferous in denying the cruel deeds that their country took part in, and there seems to be more Americans confused about the historical facts. One person may not make much of a difference, but I will work to guide people to the right information, hopefully learning more from your articles.

* Jae Park Graduate of Yorba Linda High School in California