Woo Jang-choon

This is a Korean name; the family name is Woo.
Woo Jang-choon

Woo Jang-choon in his 40s.
Japanese name
Kanji 禹 長春
Alternate Japanese name
Kanji 須永長春
Korean name
Hangul 우장춘
Hanja 禹長春

Woo Jang-choon (April 8, 1898 – August 10, 1959) was a Korean-Japanese agricultural scientist and botanist famous for breeding plants.[1] He is credited in scientific literature as "U Nagaharu", where "U" is a Korean reading of his Korean family name (禹) but "Nagaharu" is a Japanese reading of the Chinese characters in his Korean given name (長春).[2] Woo was born and raised in Japan, overcoming poverty and discrimination in Imperial Japan to become a prominent researcher and teacher. When Korea was freed of Japanese rule in 1945, Woo left his family in Japan, and traveled to Korea to lead the country's efforts in botany and agriculture.[3] There is a memorial museum in the port city of Busan where he lived and worked in Korea, honoring his life and accomplishments.[1]

Early life

Woo was born on April 8, 1898, in either Akasaka, Tokyo or Hiroshima, and raised in Kure, Hiroshima, the first son of a Korean father, Woo Beom-seon (禹範善; 우범선) and a Japanese mother, Sakai Naka (酒井 仲).[2] Woo Beom-seon served as the second battalion commander of Hullyeondae (a Japanese-trained Korean military force[4]) during the late period of Joseon dynasty and had sought political asylum in Japan.[5] He was involved in the Gaehwapa movement (a modernization faction), and was suspected of involvement in The Eulmi Incident, the assassination of the Korean Queen Min and murder of two other women in 1895. Fifty-six Japanese nationals were arrested and tried on suspicion of involvement, but acquitted in a Japanese court due to lack of evidence.[6][7][3][3] Meanwhile, Queen Min's son, Prince Sunjong, accused Woo Beom-seon of complicity in the murders and Woo Beom-seon fled to Japan.[8][9]

On November 24, 1903, father Woo Beom-seon was assassinated by Go Yeong-geun (高永根; 고영근),[3] leaving five-year-old Woo Jang-choon fatherless. His brother, Woo Hong-chun (禹洪春; 우홍춘) was born when Woo was six. Although Woo Jang-choon was part Japanese and held Japanese citizenship, his Japanese mother taught him to honor his Korean heritage.[3] Sakai Naka left Woo in the care of a Buddhist temple orphanage so she could find work and raise funds for his education. Food at the temple was limited to potatoes, and Woo was ostracized by other Japanese children for being part Korean. Woo's mother returned for him after three years away.[3][10]

Woo then began his grade school education, working hard to cope with discrimination from peers.[11] Meanwhile, the Empire of Japan had begun to challenge European colonial powers in East Asia, beginning with the Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905), which lead almost directly to the annexation of Korea in 1910. In Japan, talented male students enlisted in the military, but Woo continued with school. To meet his financial needs, his mother sold all of their possessions, even his father's tomb. (A friend allowed the remains of Woo Beom-seon to be buried in another cemetery.)

A talented math student, Woo sought to study engineering at Kyoto Imperial University, but at the suggestion of pro-Japanese Korean statesman Pak Yeong-hyo, Woo chose to pursue agriculture at Tokyo Imperial University with a scholarship administered by the Japanese General-Government in Korea. He began his university career at Tokyo Imperial University in 1916, where he was well-regarded by his professors. He graduated in 1919.

Agricultural achievements in Japan

Woo was soon given a position by Japan's Ministry of Agriculture. In order to further his social life, his mother trained him to be tolerant of alcohol, and Woo made many friends. By the age of 23, he had researched morning glory flowers and written a paper on the evolution and relationships between three species of Brassica, introducing a still-current theory known as the Triangle of U.

Woo served as a tutor to his neighbor's sons, and the neighbor introduced Woo to his sister, Koharu. They fell in love, but had difficulty convincing Koharu's parents for permission to marry. In the end, Koharu eloped with Woo, and they were married. Their first child was a daughter, Tomoko. Their marriage produced four daughters and two sons.

With Dr. Terao, Woo published two papers on petunia flowers. Then, Dr. Terao assigned Woo to study further on Petunia hybrida Vilm, which, among the different varieties of the species, could not be completely made into double flowers. Half of the flowers would not grow when forced into the double flower phenotype. Further work by Woo brought the complete double flowered Petunia into reality in 1930, and this earned him international prestige in the scientific community.

Woo returned to studying morning glory flowers, but his papers, nearly complete, were burnt in a fire. Then he pursued the study of genotypes and phenotypes. He was assigned to create new crucifers through combination of different phenotypes. His four years of research led to a successful interbreeding of Japanese and Korean crucifers, and another internationally renowned paper. Doctoral degree was given from the Tokyo University to Woo as an accolade for his excellence. A significant observation in Dr. Woo's paper was that, evolution does not happen only through buildup of beneficial mutations that lead to speciation, but also through exchange of genes between different species.[12][13]

Many Japanese agricultural study graduates came under Dr. Woo to learn, but were given overwhelming amount of exacting chores. Yet, they all continued up the ranks; Dr. Woo, however, had to stay in the Japan's Ministry of Agriculture's examination room because the Japanese policy during the occupation of Korea was to fetter Koreans from achieving high status. Especially, Dr. Woo had not changed his Korean name to Japanese -a policy aimed to assimilate Koreans into the Japanese culture. And when he was raised, he was requested to change his name; Woo abdicated from his position at the Konosu examination room.[14]

He was hired into the Takiyi research farm, where he improved on seed-production methods and agricultural food products through artificial selection. While he concentrated on establishing a solid base for the resources needed for research, he wrote a paper on artificially combining sperms and eggs to improve the quality of the plants.

Around the end of the World War II, the Takiyi research farm ran a free educational program for students, and Dr. Woo was the lecturer for Korean students; as Japan began to lose the war, Koreans were forcibly drafted into the army.[15]

Agricultural success in Korea

On August 15, 1945, Korea earned its independence; Dr. Woo resigned from his positions at the Takiyi research farm and Tokyo University, and prepared his own place near a Buddhist temple. In Korea, farmers were left no seeds to plant because trade between Korea and Japan ceased, and the seeds were produced only in Japan. The policy was aiming to hinder Koreans from obtaining technological knowledge and to profit from selling the seeds to Koreans at a high price.[16] As the result, after the liberation, there were neither people nor companies in Korea which could produce vegetable seeds such as daikon and Napa cabbage, and seeds could not be imported from Japan.[3] According with Kim Jong-yi's suggestion on resolving this problem, President Yi Seung-man sponsored a campaign to urge for Dr. Woo's return; Dr. Woo complied, and a team was established to allow Dr. Woo to work as soon as he came to Korea. The team worked to gather money and resources, and established the "Hanguk Nong'eop Gwahak Yeonguso" (한국 농업 과학 연구소) or Korean Agricultural Science Research Institute near the city of Busan.

Unfortunately, as a Japanese citizen, Dr. Woo was not allowed to leave Japan to Korea. Therefore, he collected his papers which had traced his ancestral lineage from Korea, and went to a Japanese office which searched for illegal Korean inhabitants. The employees were shocked that a worldly renowned scientist would voluntarily bring himself to the office.

In March 1950, Dr. Woo returned to Korea. The team that was assigned to prepare for Dr. Woo's return welcomed him, holding a sign that read "Welcome! Dr. Woo Jang-choon's return home." A few days later, a welcome ceremony was held in Dongrae Won'e High School, and Dr. Woo delivered a speech: "Unfortunately, I worked for my mother's country, Japan, for fifty years. During those years, I worked for Japan no less than any other Japanese. From now on, I will work for my father's country, my home country, with all of my effort. And I will bury my bones in my home country."

After a trip around the country, Dr. Woo observed the poor conditions of the farms, and concluded that mass production of seeds was imperative. In addition to these desperate circumstances, the Korean War began only three months after Dr. Woo's arrival to Korea. Luckily, the Busan area was able to avoid conflicts, and Dr. Woo could work uninterruptibly. Because there were not many insecticides available, Woo concentrated on producing seeds that were less susceptible to bugs. He did not neglect planting flowers, which seemed to not be a concern for a country in destitute conditions. The research institute became filled with countless beautiful flowers, and many visitors came by to enjoy the scenery.

Once, an American colonel made a visit to the institute, and saw a double-flower petunia. He quizzed an employee about the inventor of the flower. When the employee pretended to be unknowledgeable on the subject, the colonel said that it was a Japanese scientist named Dr. Woo. To his surprise, Dr. Woo was a Korean working at the same institute, and the colonel returned with gifts to meet Dr. Woo.

For a country not self-sufficient in producing crops to sustain and feed the country's population, the most crucial requirement was the development of top quality seeds to improve crop production. Woo Jang-choon's work resulted in improved seeds for many of Korea's staple crops, starting with Chinese cabbage, the icicle radish, hot peppers, cucumbers, head cabbage, onions, tomatoes, watermelon, the yellow chamui melon. Other major horticultural breakthroughs from Woo's research included germ-resistant seed potatoes, the seedless watermelon, and the Jeju variety of tangerine (제주감귤).

Later, the Korean Agricultural Science Research Institute was renamed Central Agricultural Technology Research Institute (중앙 원예 기술원).

Dr. Woo received a letter from his wife about his mother's poor health; therefore, he requested the president to allow him to visit Japan but was not allowed. Eventually, Dr. Woo's mother died, and Dr. Woo mourned that he could not repay his mother for all she had done. This made into the news, and there was a nation-wide effort of sending letters and donations to Dr. Woo. As a memorial to his mother and to meet the needs of his employees, Dr. Woo dug a water well near his laboratory, and named it "Jayucheon" (자유천, short for 자애로운 어머니의 젖 같은 샘) or "The Well like Milk of deeply loving Mother".

Many agricultural decisions during the 1950s were made according to Dr. Woo's suggestions, or made by Dr. Woo himself. Such included the planting of cosmos flowers to decorate the highways and railroads. Cosmos flowers disseminate easily, and would not be targeted by farmers to feed the livestocks because they are toxic in nature. One exception was on the topic of introducing hydroponics, in which Dr. Woo suggested sanitary culture, instead, because it was a much cheaper alternative with the same result; although a hydroponics facility was installed in Suwon, the outcome was poor. The president suggested sending researchers to Japan to learn the secrets of hydroponics, but Dr. Woo said that hydroponics does not require special techniques other than clean water, right balance of the nutrients, and time. Dr. Woo's team established a sanitary-culture facility in Seoul (the capital city of Korea), and its success was signified when the US military noted the facility's hygienic products and chose the facility to supply its soldier fruits and vegetables. Dr. Woo also succeeded in producing germ-resilient seed potatoes.

Illness and death

Around his sixtieth birthday, Woo began to have pain on his arm. He could not mediate the illness with medications and treatments, and the problem worsened. Only cortison would allow the pain to abate. But the medical professor Kim Joong-hwa recommended Woo for intakes of the medicine only when necessary because the medicine was not complete in its development, and negative reactions could be possible. Dr. Woo's stomach and intestines began to worsen and, although the conditions were tolerable, he was admitted to the hospital after a medical examination. Although expected to be discharged from the hospital within one month, the problems worsened, and the research employees contacted Dr. Woo's wife, Koharu, about his situation.

Dr. Woo's wife, Koharu, had difficulties trying to visit Korea, but eventually succeeded in obtaining special permission from the Korean government. When she arrived, Dr. Woo promised that they would be able to live together within two to three years, and tried to look healthy.

During this time, the Korean government officially acknowledged Dr. Woo's achievements, and the minister of the agricultural department presented himself at the hospital, to award Dr. Woo a medal. To his wife and research employees, Dr. Woo said, "To die I have no regret; my fatherland acknowledged me." On the dawn of August 10, 1959, Woo Jang-choon died in Korea. He was sixty-two years old. His death made it to the news, and people across the country mourned his death.

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Woojangchun Museum". Life in Korea. Retrieved 2008-10-27.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 우장춘(禹長春) (in Korean). Science Culture Education Research Institute; SCERI. Retrieved 2008-10-27.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 "In search of traces of historical figures: Woo Jang-choon (역사 인물의 흔적을 찾아서: 우장춘 박사" (in Korean). Hankook Ilbo. Retrieved 2008-12-04..
  4. ↑ Peter Duus (1998). The Abacus and the Sword: The Japanese Penetration of Korea, 1895-1910. University of California Press. p. 100. ISBN 0-520-21361-0. Retrieved 2009-01-24.
  5. ↑ "1898 일본 도쿄 (東京)~1959. 8. 10" (in Korean). Empas / Britannica. Retrieved 2008-10-27.
  6. ↑ "The background of Chuncheon Loyal Troops> 1. Political background (춘천의병의 배경 >1. 정치적 배경)" (in Korean). Chuncheon Loyal Troops Village. Retrieved 2008-10-27.quote:1895년 8월 20일 명성황후가 일제에 의해 시해된 을미사변이 발생하였다. 일제는 갑오변란 이후 조선을 장악하고 개화를 구실로 한 침략정책을 수행 중 삼국간섭을 계기로 조선에 서의 우월권이 러시아에 의해 저지 당하였다. 따라서 조선지배정책에 타격을 입게 된 일제는 친러정책의 핵심인물인 명성황후를 제거하고자 한 것이다. 이는 국제적 범죄행위로 조선을 식민지화하려는 침략행위의 일환으로 취해진 것이 분명하다.
  7. ↑ "History review > Continued falsification on history by Japan (역사 재조명 > 일본의 계속되는 역사 왜곡)" (in Korean). Sisa Magazine. 2004-04-19. Retrieved 2008-10-27.quote:이 외에도 사바틴의 보고서는 일본군이 치밀하게 만행을 저질렀으며 그 후 제물포 항에 정박해 있던 일본군함이 황급히 일본으로 떠났다고도 보고하고 있다. 그는 분명 일본 정부가 시해 사건에 개입한 증거라고 결론짓고 있다. 또한 사건의 주요 무력 기반이 일본군이었음도 한국사 연구자 야마베 겐타로에 의해 밝혀졌다. 따라서 남은 문제는 이 사건의 배후 구도가 어떠했는지를 규명하는 것이다. 그런데도 일본은 이 사건을 왜곡하는 데에만 치중하고 있다.
  8. ↑ Park No-ja (Vladimir Tikhonov), Prof at University of Oslo (2005-11-23). (박노자) 민족의 경계를 불사른 연애 (in Korean). The Hankyoreh. Retrieved 2008-10-27.명성황후 시해 때 친일적 성격의 군부대인 훈련대의 대대장이었던 그는 일본 낭인들의 궁정 난입을 적극적으로 방조해 시해의 종범이 됐다. 그는 일본인 주범을 처벌할 수 없었던 대한제국의 정부가 우선적으로 처단해야 할 ‘표적물’이었다.
  9. ↑ Baek Sukgi, p. 6-7
  10. ↑ Baek Sukgi, p. 11-12
  11. ↑ Baek Sukgi, p. 16
  12. ↑ Nagaharu U (1935). "Genome analysis in Brassica with special reference to the experimental formation of B. napus and peculiar mode of fertilization". Japan. J. Bot 7: 389–452.
  13. ↑ Jules, Janick (2009). Plant Breeding Reviews 31. Wiley. p. 56. ISBN 978-0-470-38762-7.
  14. ↑ Baek Sukgi, p. 36-38
  15. ↑ Baek Sukgi, p. 41/42.
  16. ↑ Baek Sukgi, p. 43.

Bibliography

External links