A study on novel censorship and Bang In-hee’s response methods during the Japanese colonial period

This paper aims to identify the literary figure of Bang In-hee, a writer whose works have disappeared from literary history, and examine how his writing style was influenced by Japanese censorship during the colonial period. By doing so, the study seeks to clarify the direction of Japan’s censorship policies toward colonial Korean writers and reveal how these writers responded to such policies. To achieve this, the study focuses on Bang In-hee’s life and literary activities, and analyzes his works before and after the censorship of his novel 「saeng-myung」 to understand the realities of censorship and the writer’s self censorship strategies. Bang In-hee began his literary career by publishing poems aimed at the general public while also being involved in journalism and youth organizations in his hometown of Jincheon. However, his career took a turning point on September 1, 1931, when he was imprisoned for exchanging subversive notes with a Chinese individual. Following this event, Bang expanded his creative range from poetry to fiction, beginning to focus on the issues facing the youth of colonial Korea. Though his early novels showed limitations in thematic depth and narrative complexity, they were noted for addressing contemporary issues such as youth unemployment and the pursuit of illusory wealth, which earned him recognition as a promising writer. However, in 1934, Bang In-hee’s novel 「saeng-myung」 , serialized in 『Chosun Ilbo』, was abruptly halted due to censorship. A review of censorship records in the 『Chosun Publishing Police Bulletin』 reveals that the portion of the novel deemed problematic was not related to issues of public safety or administrative action. This suggests that the censorship was not due to the content itself but rather the intent of the publishing police. In other words, Japan’s imperial government implemented indiscriminate censorship whenever it perceived even the slightest critical elements in relation to its policies regarding colonial Korea. After the censorship, Bang In-hee’s focus shifted from addressing societal issues to depicting the lives of individuals enduring hardship. This change in his writing reflects how censorship compelled the writer to adapt his works. While Bang was originally a novelist with a deep understanding of the social issues facing colonial Koreans and the despair of rural poverty, the censorship led him to abandon the deeper issues in favor of portraying more superficial aspects of life. This shift illustrates the degree to which censorship in colonial Korea led writers to self-censor, and how censorship served as a tool for Japan to actively control the Korean publishing market.