As an expert in the field of modern history, I can provide a detailed account of the Japanese invasion of Korea during World War II. It's important to note that the term "invasion" is often used to describe the initial military action that led to the occupation, but in the case of Korea, the situation was more complex and had been developing for decades prior to World War II. The Japanese invasion of Korea is not an event that can be pinpointed to a specific date during World War II, as the Japanese rule over Korea had already been established long before the war began. The Japanese occupation of Korea started with the annexation of Korea in 1910 following the Japan-Korea Treaty of 1910, which was signed during the period of the Korean Empire. This treaty was controversial and is considered by many historians to have been signed under duress. The Japanese Empire sought to expand its influence and territory, and Korea, being a neighboring nation, was a strategic target. The annexation led to a period known as the Japanese colonial period, which lasted for 35 years until the end of World War II in 1945. During this time, Korea was integrated into the Japanese Empire, with Japanese laws, culture, and language being imposed on the Korean people. The Japanese rule had profound effects on Korea. It included efforts to assimilate the Korean population into the Japanese culture, which involved changing Korean place names to Japanese, as well as the suppression of the Korean language and culture. The Koreans were subjected to harsh treatment, including forced labor and the use of Korean "comfort women" by the Japanese military. During World War II, Korea was not a battlefield in the same way that other regions were, but its strategic position and resources made it an important part of the Japanese war effort. The Korean people were deeply affected by the war, both as subjects of the Japanese Empire and as individuals conscripted into the Japanese military or forced into labor. The end of World War II in 1945 marked the end of Japanese rule in Korea. Following the Japanese surrender, Korea was liberated, but this liberation was short-lived as the country soon found itself divided along ideological lines, leading to the division of Korea into North and South Korea, an event that would have lasting effects on the Korean Peninsula and the world. In summary, while the term "invasion" might suggest a specific military action during World War II, the reality of Japan's control over Korea was a long-standing occupation that began well before the war and ended with Japan's defeat in 1945. The Japanese rule over Korea was a dark period in Korean history, with lasting cultural, political, and social impacts that are still felt today. read more >>

Korea under Japanese rule. Korea as part of the Empire of Japan in 1945, with Japanese place names. Korea under Japanese rule began with the end of the short-lived Korean Empire in 1910 and ended at the conclusion of World War II in 1945.read more >>