Abstract

In the agricultural sector, the Japanese Ministry of Colonial Affairs prioritized expanding Korean rice production as a medium to long-term strategic reserve for Japan’s food security under quasi-wartime conditions. The Ministry of Colonial Affairs basically sought to purchase surplus Korean rice or store it in agricultural warehouses, which led to conflicts with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. Also, since the establishment of the Ministry of Colonial Affairs, most communications between the Government-General of Korea and the Japanese central government were conducted through the Ministry of Colonial Affairs. Although, under the formal administrative system, the governorgeneral of Korea was not supposed to be under the direction of the minister of colonial affairs, the minister nevertheless intervened in the affairs of the Government-General of Korea.