Sanitation problems in Kyungsung() and citizen's

movement
Dep. Korean History
Lee, SangJae

1.Introduction
2. Sanitation problems in Kyungsung during the process of urbanizing
1) Relation between cholera and water supply facilities
2) Discrimination in water supply service
3) Garbage and human waste problem
3. Citizens movement upon sanitation problem
4. Conclusion

Introduction
Kyungsung, the capital of colonized Korea in the Japanese colonial period, was a

biggest city in Korea at that time. This city Kyungsung had various of urban problems in
1920s to 1930s, which are easily found in several contemporary media. Facing those
urban problems which never had been problematic before the colonial period, citizens of
Kyungsung gathered their self-governing capacity together in order to protest against the
administrative authority. In this period, Kyungsung had several Donghwe(), citizens
self-organized association. Donghwe was a core of the citizens movement upon urban
problems. This movement had different characteristics from those of national movement
or class movement, which were very much emblazed in the research of colonial period.
Sphere of claims of residents right cannot be understood by only ruling Japanese - beingruled Koreans frame. Besides, considering that 1920s to 30s was right on the middle of
colonized period, residents right of that time could have been much more directly linked
issue than regaining the nation sovereignty to those citizens living in Kyungsung.
Therefore, concentrating on these citizens movement of gaining their everyday lifes

right should be dealt as an indispensable task upon understanding the social aspect of
colonial period.
In this paper, I would concentrate on sanitation issues among diverse urban problems.
Sanitation problem was a huge pending issue all over the world which threatened the
existence of 19th century colonialism, as the word sanitation syndrome expresses. Japan
as colonial ruler could not be an exception upon this issue. Especially in Kyungsung,
cholera was prevalent in early 1920s, and it played a role as a trigger to mass
movement of citizens. Among several sanitation problems, I would concentrate on the
major issues such as cholera spread, water supply facilities, and disposal of garbage and
human waste. By viewing on these matters, illuminating the major causation of urban
problems occurrence and aspect of citizens collective movement is the purpose of this
paper.

2. Sanitation problems in Kyungsung during the process of urbanizing

Necessity of water is not optional to human life regardless of conditions or period in
history. Therefore, though it is not a satisfying word, on the matter of describing the
transition of pre-modern to modern life style, transformation of the way of using water
supply is rare and breathtaking example. Urbanized water supply facility was brought in
to Kyungsung in great Han empire era, but the time which it became as universal usage
was colonized period. The thing which we should give attention about urbanized water
supply facilities is that monopolization of the water supply by government, with the
aspect of industrialized control of water. Before the urbanization under Japanese rule
being begun to proceed, Korea need not such a water supply system due to fine
geographical condition. However, as the urbanization proceeds and thus population of
Kyungsung grow dramatically, securing stabilized water supply became an inevitable
task. As a result, among citizens and government, there were growing opinion that water
which is vital for human life should be supplied by professional system in Kyungsung.
Producing and supplying of water being powerfully monopolized by professions and
government is still a same phenomenon since then to nowadays.

Second factor which urged the construction of water supply facility was prevalent of
cholera. Cholera was deadly every summer in Korea at colonial period, and damage
caused by this affected very much on constructing water supply facility. Since cholera is
waterborne contagious disease, improving the urban sanitation environment centered on
securing the clean water was first and foremost task to block the prevalence of this
disease. Especially, in 1920 summer, damage by cholera was most severe throughout
whole colonial period. Therefore, I will start focusing on 1920 cholera issue to research on
sanitation problem.

1)Relation between Cholera and water supply facilities in Kyungsung

In 1920, 1,000 Korean citizens living in Kyungsung lost their life because of cholera(
). Considering the average death toll from 1914~1923 was around 50 to 100 people, it
can be understood that how shocking was the year 1920s death toll. In Kyungsung there
were newspaper report about cholera almost every day in this year, telling that new
patients have been found in Kyungsung. Newspaper reports were consistently updating
the statistics of number of cholera patients, informing the severity of the situation.

49 New cholera patients in Kyungsung:

In Kyungsung, cholera is prevailing day by day. Government is making all-out effort to
stop the cholera prevalence, but until yesterday there were 22 more patients, and there
are 27 cholera carriers. Summing up the situation, after the first patients found, cholera
patients statistics reports about 140.

To stop the prevalence of cholera, the most important task was regulation of water.
There was general perception that trace of this epidemic was water like small streams in
Kyungsung. This perception extended to broad request of analysis and prevention of
cholera bacteria upon sources of water supply in Kyungsung. This is one of the
newspaper reports which informs the civil authoritys measures on this matter.

Cholera and water

People are keep infected by cholera. Somehow, cholera bacteria are flowing from small
streams, thus bacteria seems to have been spreaded everywhere. Small streams are
flowing to Han river. Water source of Kyungsung is Han river, therefore it is very
dangerous that bacteria can be flourish through water. The authorities concerned are
strictly regulating these days... (ellipsis)... We have decided to implement Koro-ru
disinfection on purification plant, and if the infection still happens despite of disinfection,
quarantine station would be put in front of the door, so to monitor it further strictly.
Therefore, citizens would be able to drink the tap water, said an anonymous
government official.

Young-mi Kim mentions in her article, that those experience of cholera was the most
core factor which strengthened the demand of water supply facilities, which was a
symbol of clean water. From this article, we can see several facts about water supply
and cholera. According to so called modern sanitation concept, wells, which were the
major source of water supply to Koreans, were unhygienic, uncivilized inheritance. For
this reason, Japanese were more eager to build the water supply facilities. Meanwhile, as
waterborne epidemics such as cholera prevails, extensive preventive measures on water
supply facilities. This is the result of recognition that every small streams in Kyungsung
flows to Han river, and this Han river is the origin of Kyungsungs water supply. On this
base, it is natural assumption that Cholera bacteria are flowing with the small streams
and Han river, causing mass infection in Kyungsung. Also, there is an article about
regulation about mineral water()
It can be assumed that people who thought mineral water has medicinal effect went to
the place where mineral water was flowing, drank and washed their body. However,
against their will, infected people using mineral water could cause serious problems. As
infected people keep using mineral water, it could become a new medium of bacteria

which could give effect on non-infected citizens. In this way, we can be assured that
cholera prevalence of year 1920 brought serious sense of crisis upon citizens of
Kyungsung. From this effect, in the early 1920s, the thought which limits the definition of
safe water to that of have been controlled, monitored by authorities began to spread
out, and the requisition on constructing water supply facilities grew gradually upon
citizens. Meanwhile, as Kyungsung was gradually becoming an urbanized city,
appearance of south village (Namchon) and north village(Bukchon) was getting
distinguished from each other, on the basis of the Cheonggye creek(cheonggyechoen).
Bukchon was generally Korean citizens residence, and Namchon was where Japanese
population was higher than any other place in Kyungsung. Construction of water supply
facilities was also discriminative between Namchon and Bukchon.

2) Discrimination in water supply service

Construction of water supply facilities was begun when Japanese started moving to
Korea after 1894 Sino-Japanese war. In 1910s user of water supply facilities were almost
Japanese only. Looking up the progress of Population of Kyungsung, during 1911 to 1925
the number of citizens grew from about 24,0000 to 30,0000. This growth of population
was due to not only Koreans from rural places but also Japanese who migrated to
Kyungsung by colonial policy of Japanese government. In 1929, Japanese citizens
occupying in whole Kyungsung population grows up to 31%. Meanwhile replenish of
water supply facility was much more discriminative than degree of Japanese-Korean
population rate in Kyungsung. According to 1925 statistics, the number of houses that
could use water supply facility was Koreans 29%, Japanese 85.4%. The reason why racial
gap between Koreans and Japanese so large was probably because of order of priority
when it comes to decide where to supply the insufficient facilities. Disparity in water
supply between Northern village and Southern village of Kyungsung is shown well in this
article.

Water supply in Kyungsung is only for southern village

Every year when year-end comes, Kyungsungbu() contrives so many business plans
so as to empty our wallet. This year, too, it has been devised several new business
plans...(ellipsis)... Moreover, northern villages where Koreans live, there is only grand
trunk water pipe, thus people who are willing to use their own water pipe(water supply
facility) have to pay big amount of money...(ellipsis)... Japanese who are using water
supply facility are about 85.3%, while Koreans are only using 29% in Kyungsung. From
this view, thought Kyungsungbu speaks aloud that they are implementing new setups on
civilized life(), it is no use at all on us, Koreans.i

This article is dated 1926 12.28. Korean citizens believed that budget for the next year
would include the water supply facility for their villages(mostly northern villages), but in
the end it has been foundered. This article occupied one half of whole page on the
newspaper of that day, arguing the problematic situation bit by bit. In the article, there is
a small title named Northern part of Kyungsung, only 5,0000won had been appropriated
for water supply facility used to be spent on repairing the damaged pipes, glossing over
the problems. This title is saying that authorities are only appropriating very small
amount of money for the budget, which could only be enough for maintaining and
repairing. In other words, enlargement or new water supply facilities could not be
afforded for the limited budget appropriation. Also, as the wording of us, Koreans
represents, discriminative water supply problem was not limited to citizens right issue
but gradually being raised as racial problem in this article. The Japanese GovernmentGeneral of Korea had policy direction that using wells should be converted to using
water supply facilities in Korea. This should be understood with the fact that 70% of
wells in Kyungsung which Koreans used for drinking water had been judged as
inadequate for drinking. In 1933, the rate of wells which are inadequate for drinking
grows up to 80%. In this situation = Japanese will to enlarge the water supply facility
rather than natural water should not be blamed as simply bias against Korean uncivilized
native custom. Deterioration of water quality of natural water was a fact which had been
proven by scientific empirical method, and thus Koreans were accepting modern
sanitation discourse. By accepting modern sanitation discourse, Koreans could raise
problem against discriminative measure of authorities.
Enforcement of water meter made this problem more severe. In 1923, Kyungsung
implemented water meter in order to control the misappropriation of water supply and
contamination. However, the result was not good enough. By this measure, water

became commercialized and thus the urban poor(mostly Koreans) had to turn back to
wells. Also, putting aside the water meter measure, the fact that the price of water
supply in Kyungsung was even higher than Japan should be considered. There was an
article titled If the water meter implemented in Kyunsung, we cant even drink a cup of
water without worrying in April 1924. This article is representing the opinion of Korean
citizens upon water meter. Moreover, control on water quality of water supply was
terrible, thus there were articles which protest that from water supply bugs and worms
had been found. These problematic situations brought massive Korean citizens
movements.

3)Garbage and human waste problem

Disposal of garbage and human waste is a basic task in everyday life of citizens. It can be
surely understood considering that there are diverse policies being made about it, and it
is still an important issue in even today. Considering that Kyungsung was in the course of
becoming a modernized city under the rule of Japanese, it could be assumed that urban
infrastructure which treats those wastes also had their origin in that time. Deserted
wastes not only caused inconvenience in daily life but also had relation with contagious
diseases, threatening lives of citizens. Moreover, when rain falls on garbage and human
waste which being left and piled, those contaminated substances could sneak into small
streams, resulting contamination of water in wells. This was an important factor which
caused lack of drinking water in the early 1920s, with the growth of population. There is
an interesting article about this problem.

Ahyunjung full of human waste and garbage in the middle of summer

Kyungsung is getting more and more humid this summer. Even if we enlarge the cleaning
and anitation facilities, because of the weather decaying things are increasing, causing
health problem and contagious disease. However, in Ahyunjung, Bukahyunjung,
Gongdukjung garbages and human wastes are not disposed for over a month, which
used to be disposed 5~6 times a month. Therefore narrow streets are full of garbages,
human wastes are overflowing, sneaking in to the streets. People are holding their noses
and running through streets, but it is unbearable. Authorities of Kyungsung should have
responsibility for this.

Similar to this article, in Dohwadong case, article complains that human waste were not
disposed for over two months. Besides these there are Sindohwadong, Dongbu cases are
showed in the Chosonilbo articles. These articles have several things in common. First,
problems occur mostly in the places where the poor live, where Korean population

density is high, or places which are far from central Kyungsung. Second, the cause of
these problems are mostly because of administrative authoritys dereliction of duties.
Next article is a part of Dongbu citizens claims about disposal of human waste. Citizens
claims are upon administrative authority that it is only busy with window dressing
policies, neglecting the citizens real needs in everyday life.
Kyungsung administrative authority was busy for showy, abstract propagandas, striving
for enlarging the streets or general disinfections for the honor of grand Kyunsung.
However, they are neglecting the sanitation and cleaning jobs which are deeply related
to citizens everyday life and preventive measures of contagious diseases. To blame only
laziness of people who are actually doing those jobs, problem was too important and
gross one.

3. Garbage and human waste problem

As being dealt so far, citizens basic cognition about sanitation problems was that it is
deeply related to everyday life of Kyungsung citizens, and major dissatisfaction and
protests were aiming the administrative authority. Especially, towns where Koreans
mostly lived were discriminated in distribution of sanitation policies. To solve these
problems, resident society begun self-governing activities trying to find the solution, and
made protests against administrative authority, expressing their own opinions.
First, Korean community leaders organized groups which would begin to take preventive
measures upon cholera. In Samchungdong and Pilwoondong(located in northern Seoul,
Bukchon), they volunteered for preventive measure groups and carried on fund-raising
campaign. This works had same context with the critique that administrative authoritys
preventive measures against cholera were too narrow minded policies. Their policies
were mostly limited to confinement of patients and fumigation, which were only
concentrated to blocking diseases mechanically. Authorities strongly restricted
medicinal water, took preventive measures upon water supplies, hung flag on the house
where infectee lives. These measures can own the name of modernized sanitation
policies. However, in view of Korean citizens, these measures were not enough.
Ive mentioned that Koreans were on the way of admitting modern sanitation discourses.
Nevertheless, sanitation policies were discriminatively operated between Koreans and
Japanese citizens, and though the new sanitation policy seemed to be pretty persuasive,
still it was not enough for the view of Korean citizens customary concepts. The
volunteering groups visited patients houses personally, supplied foods and conducted
disinfection in their houses. Also they conducted the mountain rites(), which had
been long tradition of Koreans, praying for stopping disasters.

These efforts were very different from administrative authoritys dominant sanitation
policies, which can be summarized as mechanical measures. Citizens self-governing
measures were more focused on realistic help for patients, and as it is showed in
conducting mountain rites, there was community spirit which relies in traditional beliefs.
Of course it should be considered that authority from outside(Japanese) had their original
limitation that could not be helped. However, it is true that administrative authoritys
policies which had no concern upon citizens everyday life and rights were not sagacious
enough. Therefore Korean citizens self-governing activities had special status compared
to mechanical measures. These self-organized groups were institutionalized in 1921, as
Jung, Dong sanitation association. In 1925, these groups became Jung, Dong, selfgoverning sanitation system, exclusively charging the sanitation tasks which had been
handled by police.
As it is shown in newspaper articles, water supply facilities issue was a major target of
criticism for its discriminative administration upon Koreans and Japanese citizens. For this
reason citizens movements were carried on intensively in Bukchon, where Koreans
collectively lived than Namchon, which was mostly Japanese habitation. In 1922, Korean
representative conventions requirements included common water supply facilities.
Especially, claims on discrimination between south and north are easily found in many
articles. For example, Sindohwadong citizens(Sindohwading citizens are in trouble
upon drinking water-Chosonilbo 1931.14.15, p.2) and Sungbukdong citizens(To
requesting water supply facilities citizens movements breaking out
1936.06.03. p.3) were shown in the Chosonilbo. These are representative examples of
requesting against authority for their own right in everyday life as citizens of Kyungsung,
handing over their petition.
Also, as grand Kyungsung policy being taken, newly included suburbs were claiming
water supply facilities too. Especially, northern Youngdeungpo citizens had serious
problem on water supply, because it had an industrial complex. Factories of this complex
needed plenty of water, and because of serious drought, shortage of water became an
important issue. Noryangjin case had interesting background different from other
suburbs. This is an article about water issue of Noryangjin.

Noryangjin people requesting water supply facilities to Kyungsungbu(

)
Noryangjin is connected to Kyungsung by bridge of Han river. Right now Noryangjin
is belong to Siheunggun, but as Kyungsung grows day by day, population is growing
and progressing in diverse aspects. Therefore, Noryangjing has so much relation to
Kyungsung despite its administrative district...(ellipsis)... citizens sanitation facilities

are not sufficient, and Siheunggun or Kyunsungbu are not caring about these
problems. Therefore citizens requested water supply facilities to Kyunsungbu, which
is the most serious issue of them.

As the article shows, Noryangjin was in the economic boundary of Kyungsung, but was
belonged to Siheunggun in administrative district. Citizens were thinking that Noryangjin
would become a part of Kyungsung soon, so in this complex situation they decided to
request water supply on Kyunsungbu. They too chose the passing petition to authority as
a way of citizens movement.
In the issue of garbage and human waste, similar cases can be found in the articles.
Especially, disposal of garbage and human waste could result huge inconvenience, which
directly affects the quality of life in city. The core of these problems was that it depends
upon city authoritys effort how frequent they get rid of those wastes. Being left almost
for a few months, citizens were protesting upon the laziness of administrative authority.
As for the water issue Namchon and Bukchon was treated unfairly, disposal of waste, too,
the places where problems occurred was mostly in Korean habitation, Bukchon. In the
case of Ahyunli, suburb place of Kyungsung, when it was decided to build excreta
treatment facilities in Ahyunli, citizens not only used petition but also conducted a strike
with force, making aggressive movement.

4. Conclusion
On sanitation issue, 1920~1930s Kyungsung was a space of discrimination and
heterogeneity. Koreans who had to use dirty wells for water and Japanese using clean
water supply facility, nasty Bukchon full of undisposed garbage and human waste and
well-controlled Namchon as a clean, neat exhibition of civilization is the summary of
those time of sanitation situation in Kyungsung. Colonial authority put up the modern
sanitation discourse as a signifier, but signified was not far from colonial discrimination,
damaging the universality of such signifier, modern. Breakout of cholera raised the
alarm that water supply facility should be built, but the result which Koreans saw was
commercialization of water and discrimination between Bukchon and Namchon, dividing
the landscape of city into north and south. Garbage and human waste disposal issue
were not exception on discriminative administration either.
Upon these sanitation problems, citizens were grouping themselves and protested
against authority to defend their everyday lifes right. The movements were mostly broke
out it the unit of Dong or Jung, and they used petition to tell their opinion to authority.
Also when disastrous sanitation problems such as cholera infection occurs, they were
filling in where administrative measures could not reach by self-governing activities,

which were grouped by themselves. Petitions seemed to be not very effective,

considering that there were cases which repeating petitions upon same issue over and
over in Chosonilbo. However, it should not be forgotten that thanks to repeated
movements and efforts, in the late 1930s water supply facilities were built in Bukchon
too.
To sum up, concentrating on the citizens movement claiming their everyday lifes right
could be a part of finding the origins of Seoul today, and it could give us important clue in
understanding colonial period history of Korea. This paper is only treating sanitation
problems, but similar trial on other aspects of urban problems could be also an important
piece of colonial period history.