Korea's Kanji Abolition vs Japan's Kanji Preservation
Why Korea abandoned kanji and Japan kept it — linguistic and political analysis
This analysis references two videos. The first is a linguistic analysis by YouTuber Chia, and the second covers the historical and political background of kanji abolition.
Korea's kanji abolition was not simply a nationalistic decision — it was possible because the Korean language had structural conditions that allowed it to function without kanji. However, the opposing view argues that serious communication problems have arisen from the abolition.
Japan faced two kanji abolition crises: Maejima Hisoka's proposal in 1866 and GHQ's romanization plan after WWII.
Video analysis data is currently unavailable.
Key Timeline
1443: Creation of Hunminjeongeum (Hangul)
1866: Maejima Hisoka's kanji abolition proposal (first in Japan)
1923: Japan's Provisional Language Council — abolition debate settled with Joyo Kanji policy
1945: GHQ romanization plan → blocked by literacy survey
1948: Hangul Exclusivity Act after founding of Republic of Korea
1970: President Park Chung-hee's kanji abolition declaration
2000s~: Hangul generation (no kanji education) becomes majority