An Estimate of the Value of Rail Transport in Colonial Korea and its Application

The purpose of this paper is to estimate the value of rail transport in colonial Korea, and while using this estimate, discuss the characteristics of the structure of goods distribution and market expansion. The value of rail transport is estimated by computing the per-unit ton price of each product and multiplying this by the transport volume. If we compare the estimate result with results of existing research on Korean economic history, it can be seen that rather than looking at the transport volume, focusing on the transport value is more appropriate in analyzing the actual condition of the Korean economy during the colonial period. Using the result of this estimate, by examining the structure of goods distribution, it can be seen that although basically the transport of exports and imports was the main focus, the distribution of mineral and manufactured products within Korea increased during the 1930s. Next, it can be seen that market expansion in the northern part of Korea is the main factor affecting the demand-side. Although this paper only focuses on rail transport, it is believed that by including other data such as trade statistics, a clearer picture of the structure of goods distribution can be drawn.