`Imna Nihon-fu,` a symbol of colonial history view

The Theory of Imna Nihon-fu (Mimana Nihon-fu in Japanese) is an assertion by Japan that the Yamato government in Japan established a military outpost on the southern part of the Korean Peninsula in the 4th to 6th century. According to records written in Nihon Shoki (Chronicles of Japan) compiled in the early 8th century, Japan conquered Imna (the ancient Korean kingdom of Gaya) in 369 before being collapsed by Shilla in 562. Raised by Japanese historian Suematsu Yasukazu, the theory was used as historical grounds for justifying Japan`s colonization of Korea in the early 20th century.

Considering that the term "Imna" appears about 200 times in Nihon Shoki, it would be hard to deny that Japan formed certain forces in Gaya. What matters is the nature. Historians in South Korea and Japan view Imna Nihon-fu as a representative office for Japanese nationals living in Gaya or an organization that intermediated exchanges between Gaya and the Yamato government. It is believed to have existed 15 to 30 years, far less than 200 years that the theory claims. "It is viewed as a special diplomatic office of Gaya," said Kim Tae-shik, a historian at Hongik University. "What is clear is that Imna Nihon-fu worked for the king of Gaya, not Japan."

After 30 months of research, the Korea-Japan Joint History Research Committee concluded in its final report in 2010 that it was necessary to review or correct the Theory of Imna Nihon-fu, which argued that there was a foreign country`s territory on the Korean Peninsula or a foreign country staged large-scale military activities. The panel also agreed that the term Imna Nihon-fu was not appropriate. Despite the miles of gap in the history view between South Korea and Japan, historians from the two neighbors reached that consensus at least.

The Korean media recently reported that Japan`s Agency for Cultural Affairs changed the source of eight of 23 relics from Korea`s Three Kingdoms Period kept at the Tokyo National Museum from "Changnyeong of Korea" to Imna. After the reports, the Japanese agency explained that it had used "Imna" since the relics were designated as important cultural properties in 1936. Despite the explanation, concerns linger that Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe`s distorted view of history would expand to ancient history. While Imna is a Japanese term referring to the southern part of the Korean Peninsula, particularly Jinju, South Gyeongsang Province, Japan should remember that the term is considered a symbol of a colonial view of history in Korea.

shchung@donga.com