Today in Korean history

Nov. 10

1920 -- The Joseon Governor General's office, the Japanese colonial base for the Korean Peninsula, announces a revised education law that requires primary schools to teach Japanese history and geography instead of Korean, and extends the academic period to six years from four.

1939 -- The Japanese colonial regime announces a regulation that all Korean names must be changed to Japanese ones.

1956 -- The "Jinbo" (Progress) Party, Korea's first progressive party, is formed under the leadership of Cho Bong-am, a former independence activist of an underground communist organization during Japanese colonial rule (1910-45). Cho served as agricultural minister and a two-term lawmaker after Korea regained sovereignty.

The party's reconciliatory approach toward North Korea and progressive position on social matters would later become a thorn in the side of President Rhee Syng-man, who promoted ties with the United States against North Korea.

Cho was executed three years later on charges of violating the anti-communist National Security Law by conducting pro-North Korea activities.

Some people have claimed Cho was brought to trial as a result of a plot by Rhee, his political rival, but no investigation has been conducted on the allegation.

2012 -- South Korea and Thailand agree to launch preliminary talks toward a possible free trade deal when then-President Lee Myung-bak and then Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra held a summit in Bangkok.
(END)