일제말 조선의 경제범죄 양상: '매일신보'의 물자통제경제정책 위반사례 기사를 중심으로

Abstract

Economic crimes reported on newspapers are usually serious enough to erode an economic order by damaging mutual trust required in economic life or trade. These crimes typically feature intelligence, professionalism, power, and commerciality. However, ordinary people in Choson cannot help but become criminals under Japan’s strict economic control policy. Articles on the violation of price-control rules appeared almost every day. Profiteering was rampant in various ways in many social sectors. Japanese authorities attempted to crack down completely on profiteering only to fail. Moreover, substandard commodities were sold increasingly despite the authorities’ strengthened crackdowns; this made the public distrust Japanese policy more than ever. Japanese authorities controlled distribution as a basis of economic control policy in 1940 and applied the system resolutely to most commodities in 1942. However, the cases of violation, especially regarding rice, were reported many times. Until the end of Japan’s colonialism, illegal trade by vendors and peddlers was rampant. At the same time, the cases of illegal distribution by those in charge, who tried to give favors to their relatives, or by the people who wanted to get more rations swelled. Consequently, the price-control policy and distribution-control policy adopted by the Japanese authorities aggravated the economic condition of the Choson people despite their efforts to ameliorate social unrest.