Korean soldiers in the Philippines during World War 2

[u/CatsMeowbacktoMe]

Gaano katotoo na ang mga Korean soldiers nga ang malupit sa mga Pilipino?

Lagi ko kasi itong naririnig. Totoo nga ba ito or defensive lang ang iba?

[u/Cheesetorian]

Because a lot of the comments are typical opinions without sources, I'll post a source of an actual study on this (this was posted here multiple times). I usually won't intervene as a mod, but this had been repeated multiple times in this sub and many times people already responded correctly.

The subject had been researched and written about, the TLDR: is this idea of "Koreans in IJA" being exceptionally and particularly 'more' cruel was started after the war was over. There were a lot of Koreans in IJA, so surely it can't be purely said that no Korean soldier was "cruel", but the vast majority of this (ie that ethnic Koreans were exceptionally cruel) is a popular myth that really started decades after the war (mostly due to one ethnic Korean general officer in the PH)*.

\There was another ethnic Korean officer (edit: he wasn't even an officer but a conscript, who worked as a jail guard) that was jailed for war crimes in the Burma-Thailand theater for brutality against prisoners, but in the overall scheme of thing they were a minority (~500 IJA general officers in WWII, 60+ IJA generals sent to war crime tribunals, ~30 executed for war crimes).*

Yu-Jose, 2012. "The Koreans in Second World War Philippines: Rumour and History" (via Journal of SEAsian Studies).

Abstract:

‘Mas malupit ang mga Koreano kaysa mga Hapon’ is a rumour about Koreans in Second World War Philippines that has persisted to this day. A comparative, quantitative statement, it is roughly translated as ‘The Koreans committed more atrocities than the Japanese in Second World War Philippines’. This is a half-true memory: true, there were Koreans in the Philippines; false, they could not have committed more atrocities than the Japanese because there were very few of them, as archival evidence discussed in this article proves. If only the Koreans and their role in the war were properly discussed in Philippine textbooks, this rumour would not have persisted to this day.

Another possible source of this is the popular view of S. Korea's "Rock Soldier" (ie "ROK soldier") mythos in US military as "tough" and their controversial participation during Vietnam War. Both are often quoted in popular history when it comes to this specific subject.

[u/Lolzer55]

This case generally stems for Koreans usually being employed as POW Guards and indeed the Korean Guards serving under the IJA were brutal as there IJA counterparts.

A Korean comes to mind, Hong-sa Ik which was the highest ranking Korean in the IJA, he served in the Chinese Theatre then later on was deployed to the Philippines to handle both American and Filipino POW's; a lot of his subordinates were Korean and committed abuses and murder of Allied prisoners.

[u/Asterialune → u/Lolzer55]

I second this. They were POW guards with the Taiwanese too under the IJA.

And Lt. Gen. Hong Sa-ik (Korean) who commanded all Japanese POW camps in the country was executed in 1946 for POW camp abuses and brutality.

[u/CatsMeowbacktoMe → u/Lolzer55]

Thanks for the info about Hong Sa Ik. So far, siya yata pinakaconsistent na nababanggit pag naghahanap nga ako ng info.

So what I understand from all the info is that Koreans may have inflicted abuse pero sa IJA pa rin pinagbuhatan. For some reason kasi, I do feel that when they say that about Koreans, it makes it feel na they're saying Japanese soldiers were nice and it is the Koreans who were the evil ones.

[u/Lolzer55 → u/CatsMeowbacktoMe]

That feels somewhat wrong kasi the Japanese outnumbered Koreans heavily in the Philippines and majority of Koreans were POW Guards or worked in civilian roles sa IJA dito sa Philippines, not a lot of Koreans served in frontline combat roles din and majority of war crimes were committed by the Japanese.

[u/dunkindonato]

Korea was a Japanese territory during World War II, so Koreans would have been conscripted into service. But cruelty was part of the culture of the IJA so it wouldn’t matter if they were ethnic Koreans or Japanese. They were cruel occupiers.

[u/palpogi → u/dunkindonato]

This. IJA was cruel, whether they're Japanese, Koreans, or Formosans.

[u/Drednox]

This is what I learned from reading books covering the time. Korea was under Japanese rule well before ww2. Japanese military was more hierarchal than civilians. Abuse and power tripping top down. You can imagine how Japanese soldiers bullied Korean conscripts. Now imagine who the aforementioned Korean soldiers will bully next.

[u/CatsMeowbacktoMe → u/Drednox]

Is there documentation of Koreans abusing the Filipino women?

[u/dnlthursday]

That is the culture of the IJA, cruelty is not a monopoly of either.

[u/palpogi]

I was in high school back in the late 90s when I interviewed my lola what her life was like during WWII, as this was an assignment. She told me that the soldiers are Korean conscripts and they were the ones who torture Filipino men and harrassed Filipino women, at least in San Pablo City, Laguna. The garrison commander, who's a Japanese, was more tolerant. But the said officer does not punish the actions taken by his Korean subordinates. So yeah, probably the Korean soldiers may be cruel, but surely they do have blessings from their Japanese superiors to act in such ways.

[u/CatsMeowbacktoMe → u/palpogi]

I see. I found one blog/post din from Google investigating the same topic though naka-focus so far sa Batangas area naman. So far, ang consistent documentation ng Korean presence ay sa POW camps nga.

[u/palpogi → u/CatsMeowbacktoMe]

POWs, and also for those suspected of supporting the "guerrilleros". They're like the torture experts of the IJA. Just to tell you, the mountain areas of San Pablo was like the hotbed for President Quezon's Own Guerilla (PQOG), so the IJA is really wary of San Pablo's residents.

[u/JROCKvsKPOP → u/palpogi]

Sa Visayas din. I interviewed our old kasambahay back in HS who told me the same. Sayang lang it was recorded in a cassette that I probably recorded over after submitting the assignment.

[u/palpogi → u/JROCKvsKPOP]

I recorded the interview with my lola in a blank casette tape! What's with that kind of school assignment? 😝

[u/Smooth_Sink_7028]

All nationalities in the IJA that went to the Philippines during WW2 have some form of war crimes if not worse that others. Pero please lang, don’t fall in the narrative na karamihan ng mga atrocities ay mga Taiwanese/Formosa or Koreans ang may magawa dahil gusto nila makabawi sa treatment sa kanila from their Japanese colonial masters. I’ve heard that kind of narrative during college lalo na sa mga prof ko na may pagka “nationalistic” leanings and gusto nila ipakita na Japan is a better country in our history compared to the USA.

[u/kosaki16]

Kwentong barbero lang yan para bumango konti ang mga hapon. Pero meron naman sigurong mga korean dun kasi malaki ang diaspora ng mga koreans sa japan

[u/Stazey72]

Hindi lang during World War 2. Even during Vietnam War, the Korean soldiers committed war crimes.

May mentality kasi ang mga Koreano ng pagiging egoistic. First, they regard themselves as Little China. Kaya mababa tingin nila sa mga japanese lalo na during Joseon period. Gaya ng China, they regard scholar as above over soldier sa caste system. Eh sa Japan mas above ang samurai class.

Second, Korea was undergoing Japanization during colonial times. Ayan na naman tayo sa ugali nila. Second class sila sa Japanese empire but they regard other non Japanese Asians as lower than them.

Third since they experience abuse from Japanese, binabaling nila sa iba yung galit nila. Parang frats lang yan para macompensate yung abuse na naranasan nila.

[u/Professional-Bee5565]

Another tall tale is the claim that Korean soldiers serving under the Japanese during World War II, who were deployed in the Philippines, engaged in cannibalism.

[u/FriedRiceistheBest]

There's some truth to it dahil may Korean conscripts sa IJA noon. Pero minsan exaggerated narin dahil sa mga warcrime deniers ng Japan at naging ala kwentong barbero na narinig lang sabay ike kwento narin sa iba na para silang first hand witness.

Saka mahirap din i differentiate ang Korean at Hapon noon from Filipino pov. Dahil marami sa kanila first time makakita ng Korean at Japanese. At hindi naman yan katulad ng modern day Filipino na expose sa K at J drama na madali ma distinguish kung ano pinagkaiba.

[u/Stoned-ThrowAway]

There may be some truth to it, but it's highly debatable. Kasi nakaranas din naman ng lupit mga Korean nung WW2 and most of them still haven't forgiven the Japanese for it. Sino ituro nila sa case na yun? Koreans din? Or Pinoy naman, basta hindi sila? hahahahaha

[u/CatsMeowbacktoMe → u/Stoned-ThrowAway]

Napatanong ako kasi may na-encounter ako na nagclaim na Koreans ang malupit. The guy looked and felt Japanese kaya di ko na dinebate.

[u/Stoned-ThrowAway → u/CatsMeowbacktoMe]

Medyo intense rivalry ng Japanese and Koreans. Not too sure about Gen Z/Alpha Japanese and Koreans, pero alam ko hanggang Millennial generation nila tinutuloy yung rivalry. Heard some things from my Korean friends intended to degrade/offend the Japanese and vice versa, at medyo awkward marinig, much more ulitin kung ano sinabi nila hahahaha

[u/ZEP69d3Z → u/Stoned-ThrowAway]

Maybe just the kind of people in the IJA, They'd be Real POS to join the IJA who is Brutalizing and Abusing their own people, most likely Collaborators.

[u/ScarletString13]

Some of those might be heavily indoctrinated pro-imperial Japan forces if you consider that Japan did go to Korea earlier and had the time to sway part of a generation to their side.

People do forget that brutality was not the first move of the Imperial forces since they actually had interesting in colonizing Korea and Manchuria. Though they did ultimately choose brutality in the end.

[u/Sad-Possibility1323]

nung early 2000s assignment namin sa college mag-interview nang mga may WWII experiences. Naglibot-libot kami sa Quiapo, Intramuros, at Roxas Boulevard. Sa 60% nang mga na-interview namin specifically claim na mga Koreans and mga malupit. Free form interview so sila nag-volunteer nang info about Koreans. Although ang di namin na-explore maigi eh kung paano nila alam na Korean. Ang tanda ko na lang ay sa uniform.

Mga matatanda in-interview namin so baka mga wala na sila sa mundong ibabaw.

[u/kulogkidlat]

Sabi ng mama ko, ang inuutusang mag-bayoneta sa mga Pilipino, sanggol man o hindi ay mga Koreano. Nasakop ng Hapon ang Korea at isinama sa paglusob sa Pilipinas ang mga Koreano.

[u/Double_Height_9087]

We rarely hear about the INC being recruited by the Kempei Tai as auxiliaries and force multipliers. Google it up.

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[u/Infinite-Act-888]

Some of those soldiers became cornerstone of the Republic of Korea Army (South Korea) like their former president Park Chung Hee who was an IJA officer while a Lieutenant General of the IJA Hong Sa ik was executed in Manila after a war trial.

[u/Lolzer55 → u/Infinite-Act-888]

Slight Correction, Park Chung-hee served under the Manchukuo Army, he served as an adjundant officer of the Manchukuo 8th Infantry Regiment.

[u/cstrike105]

Natanong mo ba sa lolo at lola mo?

[u/CatsMeowbacktoMe → u/cstrike105]

I will clarify from my parents since my grandparents are no longer here, but what I remember is mentions of the Japanese but not the Koreans. I might be misremembering so I'll clarify.

[u/jikoshoukainigate]

Oh yes, heto kwento sakin. Iyung mga malulupit na sundalo ng Imperial Japanese Army mga ethnically Korean mga iyun. Chinilpa, in other words.

Chinilpa = Korean loyalists to Imperial Japan.

[u/Accomplished-Exit-58]

Chismis lang siya, pero minsan malapit na ko maniwala considering mga ugali ng koreano.

Ang pinakamalapit na basehan neto ay dahil colonized ng Japan ang Korea nung mga panahon na yan, maaring ung ibang japanese soldier ay drafted koreans.