East Asia
Volume 24, Issue 1, 2007, Pages 69-85

Transportation of Korean slave laborers during World War II: Kanfu ferries (Article)

Chang E.T.* , Kim M.Y.
  • a Center for Asian Pacific America, University of California, Riverside, CA, United States, College of Humanities Arts and Social Sciences Ethnic Studies, University of California, HMNSS 3612, Riverside, CA 92521, United States
  • b School of Economics and International Trade, Kunsan National University of Korea, Gunsan, South Korea, Department of Ethnic Studies, University of California, Riverside, CA, United States

Abstract

Japan was more dependent upon ocean shipping than any other major power during World War II, and the sea route had been the only means of transportation between Korea and Japan. The connecting steamers contributed to Japan's wartime economy by transporting not only raw materials, but also forced laborers and sex slaves between Korea and Japan. More importantly, these connecting steamers were linked to railroads and land routes in Korea and were connected to various systems of transportation, including merchant ships and regular liners outside Japan. In this paper, we examine how Korean laborers and sex slaves were mobilized and transported from Korea to Japan during World War II by focusing on the interdependent relations between railroad-connecting ships and a travel agency. © Springer Science + Business Media B.V. 2007.

Author Keywords

Marine transportation Hell ships Railroad-connecting steamers Sex slave Forced labor

Index Keywords

Japan Asia Far East Eurasia economic history Transportation labor Korea war
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-34547679855&doi=10.1007%2fs12140-007-9002-3&partnerID=40&md5=97cec78eb824f4725803ae727c9ab341
DOI: 10.1007/s12140-007-9002-3
ISSN: 10966838
Cited by: 1
Original Language: English