Women Nurses' Independence Movement during the Japanese Occupation: A Historical Research Study

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to elucidate the role of Korean women nurses in the independence movement and to examine their activities during the Japanese occupation from 1910 to 1945. Methods: Nurses studied were women nurses referred to as Ganhowon, Ganhobu, Gyeonseupganhobu, Sanpa, and Josanbu at that time. Five participants such as descendents or relatives of nurses who participated in independence movements, were selected for interview to provide oral historical materials. An historical research approach was used and all of the data were analyzed according to period, region, and pattern of the independence movement. Results: Throughout the historical literature and oral historical materials, it was found that from 1914 to 1945, thirty-eight women nurses actively participated in various types of independence activities such as mass hurrah demonstrations, raise the spirit of war, red cross activities, enlightenment movement and armed struggle to encourage the public to stand up against Japanese imperialism locally and abroad. Conclusion: The findings indicate that women nurses, as enlightened women, endeavored to solve social issues with their autonomous volition, and these action can serve as meaningful evidence for enhancing the social status of nurses.

일제 강점기 여성 간호인의 독립운동에 관한 역사연구