Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1921.djvu/1107

 FINANCE — PRODUCTION — COMMERCE

1055

membership among both Japanese and Koreans. There are over 250 Protestant missionaries (Britisn and American), and 60 Roman Catholic, also a Russian Greek Church mission in Seoul.

There are numerous Christian Mission schools for boys and girls throughout the country. All these schools are subject to the control of the Education Department. Technical and industrial schools are rapidly springing up. A model farm and agricultural school has been established at Suigen. In 1919 there were 996 public schools of all sort*, with 140,067 pupils ; other schools, 726, with 44,729 pupils.

In Seoul there is one daily Korean newspaper, and 2 Japanese, besides others published at Chemulpo and other parts of the country. There is a Government-owned daily newspaper in English, published at Seoul. The Press is entirely in the* hands of the Japanese, and a strict censorship is exercised.

Finance. — The finances of Korea form a special account in the Budget of Japan. The estimated revenue for two years is shown as follows (1 yen = 2s. 0|d. nominally) : —

Revenue.

1919-20 1920-21

Expendituie.

1919-20, 19W-2\

Ordinary Extraordinary

Total.

Ten Ten . 52,642,608 69,347,820 . 24,918,0i2 54,462,123

. 77,560,690 123,800,948

Ordinary

Extraordinary

Total ...

Ten T«

39,698..


 * 78,1C'J

77,560,696113,328,334

The main sources of revenue are taxes and public undertakings. The total debt on December 31, 1919, was 119,358,105 yen.

Production. — Korea is entirely an agricultural country ; the cultivated area is about 7,770.000 acres. The chief crops are rice, wheat, beans, and grain of all kinds, besides tobacco and cotton. The rice crops for 5 rears were (in bushels} :- 1914, 62,254,935: 1915, 56,416.224: 1916, 62,185,201 ; 1917, 60,681,378 ; 1918, 68,-622,018 ; 1919, 62,561,761. Whale fishing is carried on on the coast. Live stock is raised as a by- product of agriculture. The cattle are well known for their size and quality.

Gold mining is carried on and promises to be successful. There are four foreign-owned gold mines in active operation, and others in process ol development. Copper, iron, and coal are abundant in Korea, but the development of these resources is impeded by defective means of communi- cation. An anthracite coal mine in the north of Korea is in operation, and considerable extension of the workings are in contemplation. Graphite and mica also are found in considerable quantities. The total value of mineral products in 1918 was 30,828,074 yen.

Commerce. — The open ports are Chemulpo, Fusan, "Wousan, Chinnampo. Mokpo, Kunsan, Songchin, Ping- Yang (inland city), Wiju, Yong-Am-Po (1908), Chung-jin and Shin-wi-ju.

Trade (merchandise only) at the open ports : —

Imports Exports

1915

1916

Ten Ten

5P,199,3f>7 74,456,805 49,492,325 56,801,934

Ten Ten Ten

102,886,736 108,309,363 280,786,318

83,775,387 1">4, 189,148 219,665,781