Summary Of Views From The Hillside By Chin-Mae Lee

Excerpts from “Views from the Hillside” an illegal Korean Newspaper Column written by: Chin-Mae Lee

Blades of Grass, Side by Side - February 25, 1919 For the past nine years the Government General of Korea, under control of the Japanese Empire, has imposed strict rules on ourselves and our lands. The GGK is collecting taxes from us and making us cultivate rice in order to sustain the Japanese War effort. We, as the people, have no say in these taxes and have no ability to be involved in our imposed government. The yangban class is not standing up for our rights, they are in cahoots with the Japanese. So who can we turn to as the lower class of society. I say we have to turn to each other, and we must inform others beyond the borders of our nation as in regards to our predicament. The religious groups, such as the Christians, followers of the Heavenly Way, and the Buddhists are beginning to form a coalition to demonstrate our want of liberation.(“Colonial Korea and Japan”) I say as a people we must join their efforts to truly show the Japanese our culture and practices are here to stay. Plans of action should be forming during this week and might be implemented as early as the
A gateway to demand our freedom and to tarnish the society they have tried to create. My words are to strong to be published publicly, but fortunately a few friends of mine have been able to start back up their newspapers, allowing for a steady news outlet to the people. These papers are in no doubt monitored by the Japanese, but I have faith in the Korean people to decipher messages of hope amongst the mundane stories promoted by the Japanese. Fortunately, the Japanese have allowed for us to create paths to success. In attending University here in Korea, not purchasing Japanese goods, and promoting the Korean language, (“Colonial Korea and Japan”) we as a people can damage the fabric of Japanese society and unstitch their grasp on our