[1][2][3] During its peak around World War II, it was considered the top newspaper published in Korea, followed by the Fuzan nippō and Chōsen shinbun.

[4][5] Due to press centralization policies, from around 1942 to 1945 it was the only newspaper in Seoul with significant printing equipment.

With support from the remnants of the colonial government, it continued printing until October 31, 1945, in order to keep the Japanese residents of Korea informed of political developments.

[8][9] In response, Japanese Resident-General of Korea Itō Hirobumi began issuing an English-language newspaper to counter Bethell's, entitled The Seoul Press.

Bethell died in 1909 after a years-long legal battle,[9] and his newspaper was sold and converted into the Maeil sinbo, which promoted Japanese government lines.

[12][13][11] Resident-General Itō played a significant role in the Keijō nippō's creation, and even reportedly proposed the name of the paper.

[19][14] The newspaper's publication was temporarily restricted a number of times in 1908 because it published critically about Itō's handling of instability in the peninsula.

The paper published along Japanese government lines, promoting the annexation and discouraging independence sentiment.

[15] World War II was a time of significant change for the media landscape in Korea.

[28] A number of Japanese policies during this period made market conditions more favorable to the Keijō nippō.

[29] In 1940, the Japanese government began a policy that has been dubbed "One Province, One Company" (1道1社), under which Japanese- and Korean-language newspapers were made to consolidate or close.

By the time of Korea's 1945 liberation, the Keijō nippō was the only facility with significant printing equipment in Seoul.

[32] On August 15, 1945, Japan's loss in World War II was announced, which signaled the liberation of Korea.

[34] Korean workers went on strike; sand was thrown into the rotary press, which stopped the publication of the August 17 and 18 issues.

[5][15] For example, the left-leaning Committee for the Preparation of Korean Independence [ko] made an attempt to seize the equipment.

It wrote in its March 7 edition that Koreans lacked an understanding of all the Japan had done for it, and that they were incapable of self-governance.

An article read: "Koreans believe that after the President of the United States [Woodrow Wilson] established the League of Nations, even small and weak countries (小弱国) would avoid the domination of Great Powers, and be able to maintain their national independence.

[3] The Keijō Nippōsha sponsored a number of cultural events, including concerts, film screenings, and lectures.