The Japanese Munitions Industry Mobilization Act and the Enhancement of Korean Mobilization at the end of World War Ⅱ

This paper studied on the legislation process for national mobilization of the company and laborers, especially focused on Munitions Companies Act(Gunjukaishaho), and its legal operations both in japan and Korea, which led to intensive mobilization of colonial Koreans. The results of studies are as follows. 1. Legislative process - The concept of national mobilization originated from the Munitions Industry Mobilization Law in 1918, which was made after the model of German wartime mobilization system, and was actualized by legislation of National Mobilization Law in 1938 just after the Sino-Japanese War, finally reinforced by the legislation of the Munitions Companies Act in October of 1943, which was made for the reverse the tide in the Pacific war by producing munitions including air fighters in a high speed, which led to more intensive mobilization of women and adolescents as well as japanese men. 2. Logistics mobilization in colonial Korea - The Japanese Government General in korea initiated a logistic mobilization policy in October of 1944, which was similar to Munitions Companies Act in Japan, which was the result of the enormous pressure from the japanese government, munitions corporate group(Zaibatsu), and military powers. This was the very crucial trigger to intensify the nation-wide forced mobilization(Choyo) 3. Influence on korean mobilization - After the introduction of Munitions Companies Act in korea, koreans mobilized into munitions company in north area of korean peninsula and japanese islands increased in a high speed, which brought about under population in south korea. Nevertheless, The Japanese Government General in korea mobilized more koreans including women and adolescents in the name of Jyosei Kinro Teishintai or Kinrohokokutai to fill up the labor shortage in japan. The mobilized koreans were put mainly into japanese munitions companies, which were granted a number of favors for their pains and cooperations. That is the reason why the japanese munitions companies as well as japanese government won’t be free from the responsibility and compensation for mobilized koreans.