Book Burning in Japan (and South Korea)

This link below is to an academic discussion concerning how Shinzo Abe and the right wing LDP in Japan manipulate the press and the academia in their reporting and publishing concerning Japanese historical events and foreign relations, particularly in the US. The piece is quite detailed reporting on the history of Japanese interference in the use of grant and foundation monies to support academic fellowships and peer reviewed studies. Briefly discussed is the self censorship in the Japanese press. It is an obscure subject to Americans and the article is lengthy. I don’t want to steal any of the author’s thunder, nor violate the copyright concerns, so I’ll merely place the link here:

“Book Burning” in Japan
Frank Baldwin

https://apjjf.org/2019/21/Baldwin.html

I noticed the article because I had recently heard an interview in Korean media (JTBC News) by Professor Hosaka Fuji, Sejong University professor, in Seoul, describing how the Japanese government recruits outstanding Korean scholars studying in Japan to take on a pro-Japanese bias by giving them substantial financial payments on regular basis. This bias primarily involves taking on a right wing revisionist view of Japanese history which essentially denies the validity of foreign claims against Japan for war crimes or crimes against humanity, and discourages portraying Japanese policies in an unfavorable manner. My review of historical presentations on youtube suggest this practice concerning Korean scholars has been going on for some time, as there is a clique of pro-Japanese scholars in South Korea with known Japanese political and academic ties.

Upon review of Mr. Baldwin’s essay the practices in curbing academic freedom and press reporting by Japan appear similar to press practices that one expects to find and will find in prior South Korean dictatorships but also in the recent transitional regimes of right wing political leaders Lee Myung Bak and Park Geun Hye, who ostensibly were presidents of a “democratic South Korea.” These abuses were disclosed at the time of Park Geun Hye’s impeachment trial. Investigation revealed the maintenance of black lists of disfavored performers, authors, reporters, directors, and artists, took place in public broadcasting institutions and also under the Direction of the Ministry of Culture. Sports and Tourism, against individuals who didn’t express the right political views. This is from an article in the Diplomat addressing the later topic:

MBC and KBS labor unions have accused Ko and Kim of being involved in the execution of the “culture and arts blacklist” allegedly produced by the former Lee Myung-Bak administration. The blacklist has been reportedly designed to rule out certain celebrities or journalists from participating in media activities. It includes the names of stars, journalists, and announcers from various media fields including news, radio, variety shows, and drama who are known to have progressive political views. Famous figures such as comedian Kim Jae-dong and rock singer Yoon Do-hyun were said to have been included in the list.

Strife in South Korea Over Politics in Public Broadcasting Hyungmin Michael Kang Sep 17, 2017
https://thediplomat.com/2017/09/strife-in-south-korea-over-politics-in-public-broadcasting/

Here is another report from the Korea Herald in English which reveals the scope of the censorship and persecution operation:

The scandal refers to the actions of the administrations of former presidents Park Geun-hye and Lee Myung-bak -- both currently imprisoned -- which kept a blacklist of nearly 10,000 figures in the culture and entertainment sectors, unfairly subjecting them to investigations and denying them government subsidies.

Of the 68 officials from the Culture Ministry, 10 are under criminal investigation, one was subjected to “severe disciplinary action” of unspecified nature and 33 received warnings. Of those from affiliated bodies, 21 will be subjected to disciplinary actions ranging from dismissal or suspension to pay cuts and 13 others will get warnings.*

*Culture Ministry apologizes for blacklist, gets blasted for insincerity
By Yoon Min-sik
Published : Dec 31, 2018 - 17:57
http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20181231000485

And:

Park ordered Kim and Cho to establish a list – that reportedly included some 10,000 names – of talent who were to be excluded from receiving state funding. They included film directors Lee Chan-dong (“Secret Sunshine”,) Park Chan-wook (“Oldboy”,) and Han Kang, novelist winner of the Booker Prize.*

*Korea’s Ex-Culture Minister Jailed for Operating Talent Blacklist
By PATRICK FRATER January 22, 2018
https://variety.com/2018/film/asia/korea-ex-culture-minister-jailed-blacklist-1202673389/