한성부(漢城府) 일본인 거류지 내 상업가로의 형성과 성격 - 1885년~1910년 본정(本町)을 중심으로 -

Formation of Commercial Street in Japanese Settlement in Seoul focusing on Honmachi(本町) Streets from 1885 to 1910

Since 1876 when Korea opend its port to foreign countries, Japanese merchants have begun their business in Korea. In case of Seoul, most of their shops were located in Japanese settlement on northern part of Namsan(南山). In the early days of settlement, business community was small with few retail shops selling basic commodities to Japanese residents. However, it has rapidly expanded with the increased number of stores as well as bigger size stores as the Japanese residents increased and Koreans and westerners join the customer group as trade between Korea and Japan has grown. Japanese stores were located mainly in the Honmachi(本町) 4~5th Street, in the early period of residence, but they expanded their base to the main business district of Seoul such as Namdaemunro after Sino-Japanese war. Major streets of the residential area, including Honmachi Street, were surrounded by unique Japanese commercial buildings such as newly built Machiya(町屋) and Western style stores, along with Japanese commercials and decoration.