How did Japanese occupation affect the development of modern Korean painting?

During the Japanese occupation of Korea (1910–1945), the development of modern Korean painting was profoundly influenced by Japanese colonial rule, which acted as a conduit for Western artistic concepts and practices. Because the only modern facilities for studying painting available to Koreans were Japanese, the introduction of Western-style art was effectively refracted through Japan.1

This period brought significant shifts in the artistic landscape:

• Introduction of Western Media: The occupation facilitated the introduction of oil painting and techniques such as realistic, three-dimensional depiction. While early attempts to introduce these styles faced resistance, they eventually became a dominant field of activity, with many Korean students traveling to Tokyo to study.1
• Institutional Influence: In 1922, the Japanese inaugurated an annual exhibition for Korean artists to promote a new academic style, shifting the perception of art from a traditional gentleman’s avocation to a professional career.1
• Divergent Paths: Modern painting ultimately split into two primary directions: Western-style painting, often rooted in Impressionism, and Eastern-style painting, which continued to utilize traditional ink or coloured ink mediums.1

Despite these colonial pressures, Korean artists maintained a connection to traditional mediums, eventually evolving these practices into modern modes of expression after 1945.1