SEOUL –
An unofficial web site that enables South Koreans to examine whether or not their ancestors have been thought-about collaborators throughout Japan’s colonial rule is quickly gaining customers, fueling on-line scrutiny of household histories and assaults on descendants at the same time as public sentiment towards Japan has reached its highest degree since surveys started.
“I was just relieved there were no pro-Japan collaborators in my family,” one person wrote. Another mentioned, “It was shocking to find out there was a pro-Japan collaborator among my ancestors.”
The web site, referred to as the Pro-Japan Scanner, permits customers to enter a surname and the ancestral hometown of their household to seek for family members who might have been linked both to collaboration with Japan or to Korea’s independence motion.
The time period “pro-Japan” on this context refers to folks considered having cooperated with Japan’s colonial rule of Korea.
The unofficial service attracts on official authorities information and personal databases, however the accuracy of its data just isn’t assured.
Use of the positioning surged after an issue involving common actor Ha-young, who mentioned on a tv program that he got here from “a family of doctors spanning four generations.”
The comment prompted on-line customers to research his household background, resulting in allegations that his great-grandfather had collaborated with Japanese colonial authorities.
Ha-young grew to become the goal of intense on-line criticism and ultimately issued a handwritten apology. Advertisements through which he appeared have been additionally taken down from public view.
The controversy has helped gasoline a broader pattern through which individuals are successfully conducting on-line “screenings” of each other’s ancestors and directing criticism at their descendants.
“My grandfather’s name appears on the pro-Japan side. What should I do?” one particular person wrote on-line.
Another responded, “You’re the descendant of someone who sold out the country. Spend the rest of your life reflecting on it.”
The more and more hostile environment contrasts with broader public attitudes towards Japan. A current survey discovered that favorable sentiment towards Japan amongst South Koreans had reached the best degree because the survey started.
Opinion on the Pro-Japan Scanner itself is split.
One supporter mentioned the positioning was needed. “I don’t think it is a bad thing to think again about people who committed anti-national acts,” the particular person mentioned.
An opponent described the response towards descendants as extreme. “This is an excessive witch hunt targeting descendants. What we should be examining is the conduct of the people who committed anti-national acts,” the particular person mentioned.
The phenomenon has been likened to a type of collective punishment, through which descendants are criticized for the actions of their ancestors.
Popular tradition critic Lee Moon-won mentioned the pattern displays greater than variations over historic interpretation.
“On social media, there are many cases in which people attack others while claiming to act in the name of social justice,” Lee mentioned. “They may feel a sense of satisfaction from bringing down someone with social status because it makes that person seem equal to themselves.”
The unfold of assaults that use historic points to focus on people is highlighting a darker facet of South Korea’s more and more heated on-line tradition.
Source: TBS