korea went through a period of japanese occupation from 1910 until 1945, starting with the japan - korea treaty of 1910, which integrated korea into the japanese empire as a protectorate. in 1938, the japanese government adopted a policy that aimed to assimilate koreans by replacing korean language education with japanese language education. by 1943, speaking korean was forbidden. despite resistance, many koreans also adopted japanese names, in hopes of improving their opportunities and avoiding discrimination. those who did not comply with the policy were forbidden from attending school, collecting wartime rations or working for the government.