The Birth and Gauge Standard of Railways in Modern East Asia

     - With a focus on the rail gauges of Korea, China, and Japan

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Author : Kim, Ji-hwan​​​​​​​

Page : 321-359

Abstract   

  In recent years, inter-regional harmony and communication via railways have emerged as hot topics including the "East Asian Railway Community" and "Iron Silk Road" in each nation of East Asia. The railway-based East Asian Railway Community is not only a plan for the future, but also today's outcome developed based on historical continuity and assets. It is extremely important to understand the construction process of the first railway in the understanding of the East Asian Railway Community for its phenomena and future. This study set out to examine the factors behind the gauge standard of the first railway in Korea, China and Japan and also their different historical environments. 

  Japan chose the narrow gauge to make active use of railways as a means of rule for national prosperity and military power in the Meiji Restoration process, thus being able to expand the full railway length. China chose the standard gauge, which was in line with the formation and development of its nationwide railway network in the future. In Korea, railways were constructed mainly by the Japanese government and capital, which stripped the nation of the opportunity to choose its rail gauge on its own. Japan chose the standard gauge like the continental railways for Korea, making active use of Korea's railways for its policy of invading the continent. 

<Key Words>

East Asian Railway Community, Rail Gauge, Keihin Railway, Kyongin Railway, Wusong Railway​