“Diamond Mountain” Sightseeing Association Membership Badge 金剛山探勝員章 (김강산 탐승원장)
Mount Kŭmgang 금강산 (金剛山; lit. Diamond Mountain) is 1,638 meters high (5,374’) and is the centerpiece of the Kŭmgang Mountain Range located on the east coast of North Korea and is part of the Taebaek 태백산 (太白山) mountain range. Mount Kŭmgang has been known for its scenic beauty since ancient times and has been a major theme in Korean art. Generally called Kŭmgang San, it has many names. In summer, it is often called Pongraesan (봉래산, 蓬萊山: the place where a spirit dwells); in autumn, Phung’aksan (풍악산, 楓岳山: hill of colored leaves, or 楓骨山: great mountain of colored leaves); and in winter, Kaegolsan (개골산, 皆骨山: stone bone mountain). One of the meanings of Kŭmgang is ‘a firm heart in the face of truth.’ There are dozens of other names used for the region. It is divided into the “Inner Kŭmgang” in the west and the “Outer Kŭmgang” in the east, with the area on the east side of the Yeongeum River being called “Hae Kŭmgang” (“Sea Kŭmgang”). Not only has it been a major attraction in Korea for centuries, but there are also a number of early Western visitors who have written about its scenic beauty. During the Japanese colonial period, the area was granted national park status on March 25, 1927. In some early missionary accounts of Korea and on early postcards, it is often called the Inner and Outer Kongo.
North Korean leader Kim Il-sung visited Kŭmgang San in October 1948, and shortly after the Korean War, he established the Kŭmgang San Pleasure Park Management Agency. His son, Kim Jong-il, visited the area on September 12, 2006. It wasn’t until 1998 that South Korean tourists could visit Mount Kŭmgang. In 2002, the North Korean government separated the area around the mountain from Kangwŏn Province and organized it as a separately administered tourist region. The Mount Kŭmgang Tourist Region is another way for North Korea to receive hard currency. The only official currencies allowed in the area are Chinese RMBs and US dollars. Interaction with North Koreans is strictly controlled, and the majority of the resort staff are Chinese citizens with Korean language skills. The resort was once hailed as a symbol of inter-Korean cooperation, but tourism stopped in 2008 when a tourist was shot dead by a North Korean soldier. The resort was built by the South Korean government and private companies, and until 2010, it was managed jointly by North and South Korea. In 2011, the North seized all South Korean assets at the complex and expelled the remaining Southern officials. Current North Leader Kim Jong-un visited the area on October 22, 2019. He criticized the tourist region and ordered the demolition of all hotels and other buildings constructed by South Korea in the resort.
On the badge, at the top right, is the emblem of the Kyushu Nippo (Kyushu Daily Newspaper). It is composed of the characters for Kyushu 九州, with the Kyu 九 being superimposed on top of a stylized Shu Character 州. Kyushu Nippo 九州日報 (구주일보) was a Japanese daily newspaper published from August 1887 until August 1942. In 1943, there were several changes made that resulted in the disappearance of the “Kyushu Nippo” name. The top two characters are 朝鮮 (조선) “Chosŏn” (Korea). Below this, running vertically, is 金剛山探勝員章 (김강산 탐승원장), “Mount Kŭmgang Sightseeing Association Badge.” At the bottom, the top line is 九州日報 杜主催 (구주일보 두주최) “Sponsored by the Kyushu Daily Newspaper,” while the bottom line reads 昭和九年十月 (소화구년십월) October 1934. There is nothing on the reverse except for a mounting pin.
For more information and pictures of this badge, see “The Medals of Asia” Website.
Chosŏn Ilbo Newspaper – New Building
The obverse has: 成落新築 (성락 신축 (seongnak sinchuk) “New Construction” or “Construction of a New Building”; below the building is the date “1935,” and at the bottom 記念 (기념), “Commemorative.” On the reverse is 朝鮮日報 (조선일보) “Chosŏn Ilbo.”
The Chosŏn Ilbo 朝鮮日報 (조선일보, lit. ’Korea Daily Newspaper’) is one of the oldest daily newspapers in Korea. The Chosŏn Ilbo Establishment Union was created in Sept. 1919, shortly after the March 1st Demonstration. The demonstration had forced the Governor General of Chosŏn to be more lenient toward Koreans. As part of Japan’s new ‘Cultural Policy,’ Korean newspapers were allowed to be published. The newspaper was formally established when it published its first edition on March 5, 1920. Many of its articles were pro-independence, and as a consequence, the newspaper was shut down numerous times by the Japanese. However, the newspaper has also been accused of being “pro-Japanese anti-nationalist active” 친일반민족행위 because of controversy over its advocacy of Japanese rule over Korea during the colonial period (1910-1945). It was completely shut down during WWII. It resumed publication after liberation, and for a short time during the Korean War, it was taken over by the North Koreans. Until 1987, the newspaper had reported favorably on South Korea’s military dictatorships.
Presently, I have found little information on the plane used on this fob, but it may be celebrating the Tachikawa Ki-9 九五式一型練習機 biplane. The prototype of this aircraft recorded its maiden flight on Jan. 7, 1935. After testing and formal acceptance by the air wing of the Imperial Japanese Army, the Ki-9 entered service also in 1935. Numerous Tachikawa Ki-9 intermediate trainers were deployed in Korea and Manchuria. Since this was a trainer aircraft, there were no weapons. However, some of them were used as “special attack” (kamikaze) aircraft in the closing days of the war. They were fitted with either a 100 kg bomb or an oil drum filled with explosives or fuel in the rear cockpit. The aircraft was known to the Allies under the nickname of “Spruce.” At the end of WWII, most of these biplanes that were in South Korea were taken over by the US Army at Suyeong Airfield in Pusan. It was an excellent aircraft for the training of both South and North Korean forces. I have been unable to find any source pointing to the manufacture of this aircraft in Korea. At this point, I assume the building pictured is the headquarters of the Chosŏn Ilbo newspaper and the plane is only incidental.
Chosŏn Sinmun-sa Commemorative Fob
The newspaper, the Chosŏn Sinmun-sa 朝鮮新聞社 (조선신문사), was created under the leadership of Kazuo Hagitani 萩谷一雄 (1869-1935) after the merger of Chosŏn Shinpo 朝鮮新報 (조선신보) and the Chosŏn Times 朝鮮時報 (조선시보). The first issue of Chosŏn Sinmun was published on Dec. 1, 1908, and it became the most powerful Japanese-language newspaper in Inchon. The headquarters were moved to Keijo (Seoul) in 1919, and in 1920 there was a change in management to Kozo Makiyama 牧山耕蔵 (1882-1961). The newspaper took the position of representing private Japanese voices in the Korean peninsula. Publication was suspended several times after the paper became embroiled in heated discussions with the Japanese colonial government’s official newspaper, the Gyeongseong (Seoul) Ilbo 京城日報 (경성일보) 1 or when it criticized the policies of the Governor-General of Korea 朝鮮総督. It operated branch bureaus throughout Korea as well as a few in China. In 1940, the Japanese Governor-General initiated the “One Province, One Company” (1道1社; 1도 1사) policy, leading to the merger or forced closure of numerous Japanese and Korean language newspapers. The Chosŏn Sinmun-sa ceased publication in 1942. The Korean Governor-General’s official newspaper, the Gyeongseng Ilbo, was the only one to survive until the end of WWII.
As far as I can determine, these fobs do not commemorate any particular event but appear to be promotional advertising. On two of the fobs there is the word “Gloria.” The word is from the Latin feminine given name “gloriae,” meaning immortal glory, glory, fame, renown, praise, or honor. On the reverse of all three fobs there are the Chinese characters for Chosŏn Sinmun-sa 朝鮮新聞社. The emblem on the pennant of the first fob is different from those on the other two fobs. In the center of the first fob’s emblem, it has the Chinese character 新 for “newspaper.”
Pusan Ilbo Inc. 釜山日報社
The Pusan Ilbo 부산일보 (釜山日報) newspaper was founded in January or February of 1905 under the title “Chosŏn Ilbo” 조선일보, but soon after its founding, the title was changed to “Chosŏn Current Affairs News” 조선시사신보. Then on Oct. 21, 1907, it changed to the “Pusan Ilbo” 釜山日報 and became a privately held joint stock company. The paper was owned by the Akutagawa family 아쿠타가와 집안, and Akutagawa Tadashi 아쿠타가와 타다시 [芥川正] was the first president.
On November 26, 1915, a fire broke out. While rebuilding the facilities, the paper decided to expand its market share by including Korean readers. However, there were many newspaper articles that revealed severe Japanese prejudice, and this often led to a backlash by Korean society. On January 27, 1931, another fire broke out, causing a loss of the office building.
In 1940, the Japanese Governor-General initiated the “One Province, One Company” (1道1社; 1도 1사) policy, leading to the merger or forced closure of numerous Japanese and Korean language newspapers. On May 27, 1941, the Pusan Ilbo was merged with Chosŏn Shibo 조선 시보 and Namseon Ilbo 남선 일보. During WWII, with most of the young Japanese employees being drafted, a significant portion of the staff was Korean. Despite the Japanese defeat, the paper continued to publish its Japanese edition even after liberation, but the plan was soon thwarted by the Korean employees who remained at the paper. The Korean employees organized a nine-member committee (Chairman and Editor-in-Chief Lee Gap-gi, General Affairs Director Kim Hyeong-du, etc.) and began preparations. They planned to publish a Korean-language newspaper and procured Korean typeface from the Choryang Cooperative Printing House 초량협동인쇄소. After two members of the committee were removed, the seven-member committee took the lead in running the newspaper. They expelled the Japanese from the organization and founded the Jungbo 중보 (衆報) on September 1, 1945. However, within a relatively short span of time, the paper was renamed the Democratic Central Newspaper Minju Jungbo 민주 중보 (民主衆報). On September 9, 1946, due to a 24-hour eviction order from the U.S. Military Government’s Enemy Property Management Authority, the paper was forced to hand over its building and capital to the newly founded Pusan Ilbo and relocate to the second floor of the Ebisu Pharmacy. This was due to the U.S. military government’s perception of the Minju Jungbo’s leftist tone. On February 1, 1950, it was renamed Minju Shinbo and continued to publish. After the May 16 military coup (1961), it published its last evening edition on August 1, 1962, and ceased publication in accordance with the press regulations announced by the Supreme Council for National Reconstruction.
Park Soo-hyung 박수형 (朴洙衡) founded the current Pusan Ilbo on September 10, 1946, and took over the facilities of the original paper. However, the current Pusan Ilbo does not consider the older newspaper as its predecessor. In 1951, the building was forcibly seized by the US military newspaper Stars and Stripes but was released two years later at the end of the Korean War.
It’s difficult to find traces of the Japanese Colonial Pusan Ilbo before the Korean liberation, but you can find information at the Pusan Museum of Modern History in Daecheong-dong, Pusan. In March 1985, a ‘Newspaper Exhibition Hall’ was opened on the second floor of the Pusan Ilbo building.
Asahi Shimbum
On the obverse there is a woman in a helmet and the word Minerve. This is the French spelling of Minerva. She was the ancient Roman goddess of wisdom, justice, law, victory, and the sponsor of arts, trade, and strategy. She is also a goddess of warfare, though with a focus on strategic warfare rather than the violence of gods such as Mars.
On the reverse, at the top is the word 賞, meaning “prize,” “reward,” or “praise.” In the bottom rocker is 朝日新聞社 “Asahi Shimbun Company.”
The Japanese newspaper “The Asahi Shimbun” 朝日新聞 published its first issue on Jan. 25, 1879. During the Japanese Colonial Period, it was published as an overseas edition, 外地版, commonly referred to as the Korean Edition, 조선판. The overseas edition competed with other Japanese papers in Korea and with local Korean newspapers.
It is unknown if this badge was used in Korea.
Today, the Asahi Shimbun is the only major Japanese newspaper that supports the “comfort women.” Many Japanese feel that this demeans Japan, while others feel that it is correct to challenge Japan’s past .