With reference to the period up to 1950, evaluate the impact of the Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945) on Korea.

Candidates will make an appraisal of the impact of the Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945) on Korea in the period up to 1950 by weighing up its importance or otherwise with regard to political, economic, social or cultural aspects in Korean society, but these need not all be covered or covered equally. They may adopt a chronological approach that contextualises the situation in Korea or a thematic approach. Candidates may refer to the Japanese occupation, industrialisation, the destruction of Korean culture, forced labour schemes, social unrest, the Soviet and US occupation zones, the role of the United Nations, and the Cold War politics that led to the outbreak of the Korean War in 1950. Both the importance or otherwise of the impact of the Sino-Japanese War must be clearly indicated but there does not need to be an equal focus on each. While other, relevant, factors may be referred to, the bulk of the response will remain on the issue raised in the question.