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81-739: The first Man Gyong Bong ship had its maiden voyage in September 1971, amidst Japan’s easing restrictions on visits to North Korea by Zainichi Koreans . It was used to transport people between North Korea and Japan until it was replaced by the Man Gyong Bong 92 in 1992. The Man Gyong Bong 92 was constructed using a donation of 4 billion yen (approximately US $ 32 million) from the Japanese-based Chongryon (General Association of Korean Residents in Japan). The organisation gave

162-480: A Chongryon school on a study trip. Cargo shipped from Japan was typically electronics, medical devices, and foreign-made manufactured goods. In August 1993, a first-class ticket on the Man Gyong Bong 92 would cost about US $ 1,500 each. In September 2002, the North Korean government admitted to abducting several Japanese citizens throughout the late 1970s and early 1980s. This admission caused people to believe

243-519: A Japanese passport means becoming Japanese, rather than Korean-Japanese. In order to be naturalized as Japanese citizens, Zainichi Koreans previously had to go through multiple, complex steps, requiring collection of information about their family and ancestors stretching back ten generations. This information could be collected through a Korean organization such as Mindan, but with their prohibitively expensive cost, many were unable to afford it. However, these processes have become much easier, and today, it

324-461: A North Korean ferry that is the only regular direct link between North Korea and Japan, is a subject of significant tension, as the ferry is primarily used by Chongryon to send its members to North Korea and to supply North Korea with money and goods donated by the organization and its members. In 2003, a North Korean defector made a statement to the US Senate committee stating that more than 90% of

405-598: A book about his experience, The Aquariums of Pyongyang . One returnee who later defected back to Japan, known only by his Japanese pseudonym Kenki Aoyama, worked for North Korean intelligence as a spy in Beijing . The repatriations have been the subject of numerous creative works in Japan, due to the influence they had on the Zainichi Korean community. One documentary film about a family whose sons repatriated while

486-535: A dedicated audience in Japan, contributing to the normalization of Korean culture within mainstream Japanese media. Furthermore, economic opportunities have also contributed to a recent influx of Korean newcomers to Japan. Despite historical tensions between the two countries, Japan remains an attractive destination for many South Koreans seeking employment and business prospects. The close geographical proximity and strong economic ties between Japan and South Korea have facilitated increased migration and investment between

567-692: A directly governed city. What this means in practice is unclear. Rason borders Hunchun county in Jilin province of China and Khasansky District in Primorsky Krai of Russia . China is making investments in the port as it gives it access to the Sea of Japan. In July 2011, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) gave a green light for China's domestic trade cargo to be shipped via its port of Rajin from northeast to east China. Coal

648-610: A former senior official of Chongryon, admitted to running an espionage network in Japan for North Korea until 2000. He confessed to receiving his orders from Pyongyang through various high-ranking crew members aboard the Man Gyong Bong 92 . On May 20, 2003, a former North Korean missile scientist testified at a U.S. Senate hearing that the Man Gyong Bong 92 transported 90% of the missile parts used by North Korea. These components were suspected of having been obtained from typical Japanese electronics such as game consoles and digital cameras, which would also make them easier to smuggle out of

729-463: A golf resort. This area was jointly operated by North and South Korea until the fatal shooting of a South Korean tourist by a North Korean soldier in 2008, upon which all South Korean property was seized by the North. The trial run of the cruise took place in late August 2011. Many of the approximately 200 passengers were travel agents, media, and North Korean officials, with some paying about US $ 470 for

810-746: A group distinct from South Korean nationals who have immigrated to Japan since the end of World War II and the division of Korea . They currently constitute the third largest ethnic minority group in Japan after Chinese immigrants . Their population declined significantly due to death, returning to Korea, and assimilating into the general Japanese population. The majority of Koreans in Japan are Zainichi Koreans ( 在日韓国・朝鮮人 , Zainichi Kankoku/Chōsenjin ) , often known simply as Zainichi ( 在日 , lit. 'in Japan') , who are ethnic Korean permanent residents of Japan. The term Zainichi Korean refers only to long-term Korean residents of Japan who trace their roots to Korea under Japanese rule , distinguishing them from

891-593: A large number of Koreans were also conscripted by Japan. Another wave of migration started after South Korea was devastated by the Korean War in the 1950s. Also noteworthy was the large number of refugees from the massacres on Jeju Island by the South Korean government. Statistics regarding Zainichi immigration are scarce. However, in 1988, a Mindan youth group called Zainihon Daikan Minkoku Seinendan ( Korean : 재일본대한민국청년회 , Japanese : 在日本大韓民国青年会 ) published

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972-505: A long time, Chongryon enjoyed unofficial immunity from searches and investigations, partly because authorities were reluctant to carry out any actions which could provoke not only accusations of xenophobia but lead to an international incident. Chongryon has long been suspected of a variety of criminal acts on behalf of North Korea, such as illegal transfer of funds to North Korea and espionage, but no action has been taken. However, recently escalating tensions between Japan and North Korea over

1053-523: A new one called the Federation of Korean Associations in Japan  [ ja ; ko ] . In recent years, there has been a noticeable shift in the perception of Zainichi Koreans in Japan, largely influenced by the growing popularity of Korean culture, known as the " Korean Wave " or Hallyu. This cultural phenomenon, encompassing Korean music, television dramas, films, and cuisine, has gained widespread attention not only in Japan but also globally. As

1134-829: A number of issues, namely North Korea's abduction of Japanese nationals which came to light in 2002 as well as its nuclear weapons program , has led to a resurgence of public animosity against Chongryon. Chongryon schools have alleged numerous cases of verbal abuse and physical violence directed against their students and buildings, and Chongryon facilities have been targets of protests and occasional incidents. The Japanese authorities have recently started to crack down on Chongryon, with investigations and arrests for charges ranging from tax evasion to espionage. These moves are usually criticized by Chongryon as acts of political suppression. In December 2001, police raided Chongryon's Tokyo headquarters and related facilities to investigate Chongryon officials' suspected role in embezzlement of funds from

1215-663: A proper job, they began to get involved in illegal jobs such as "illegal alcohol production, scrap recycling, and racketeering". As a result, many Zainichi Koreans ended up living in slums or hamlets, a situation aided by Japanese real estate agents' refusal to let Zainichi Koreans rent houses. In addition to labor exploitation and housing discrimination, Koreans also endured significant social discrimination. They were segregated into specific neighborhoods, commonly referred to as "Korean Towns," (which still exist today in Shin-Ōkubo and Ikuno-ku ) where living conditions were poor, sanitation

1296-595: A report titled, "Father, tell us about that day. Report to reclaim our history" ( Japanese : アボジ聞かせて あの日のことを—我々の歴史を取り戻す運動報告書 ). The report included a survey of first generation Koreans' reasons for immigration. The result was 13.3% for conscription, 39.6% for economics, 17.3% for marriage and family, 9.5% for study/academic, 20.2% for other reasons and 0.2% unknown. The survey excluded those who were under 12 when they arrived in Japan. While some families can currently trace their ancestry back to pre-modern Korean immigrants, many families were absorbed into Japanese society and as

1377-576: A request to the Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers, then the occupying power of Japan , to change the nationality registration of Zainichi Koreans to Daehan Minguk ( Korean : 대한민국 ; Japanese: Daikan Minkoku , 大韓民国 ), the official name of the new nation. Following this, from 1950 onwards, Zainichi Koreans were allowed to voluntarily re-register their nationality as such. The Allied occupation of Japan ended on 28 April 1952 with

1458-724: A result of pirate raids or during the 1592–1598 Japanese invasions of Korea . In the Edo period , trade with Korea occurred through the Tsushima-Fuchū Domain in Kyūshū , near Nagasaki . After the conclusion of the Japan-Korea Treaty of 1876 , Korean students and asylum seekers started to come to Japan, including Korean politicians and activists Bak Yeonghyo , Kim Ok-gyun , and Song Byeong-jun . There were about 800 Koreans living in Japan before Japan annexed Korea. In 1910, as

1539-688: A result, there has been an increased appreciation for Korean culture among the Japanese population, leading to greater interest in Zainichi Koreans and their heritage. The Korean Wave has played a significant role in bridging cultural gaps and fostering greater acceptance of Zainichi Koreans in Japanese society. K-pop music groups, such as BTS , Twice and BLACKPINK , have garnered massive followings in Japan, garnering interest in Korean entertainment. Similarly, Korean dramas and films have found

1620-580: A result, they are not considered a distinct group. The same is applicable to those families which are descended from Koreans who entered Japan in subsequent periods of pre-modern Japanese history . Trade with Korea continued to modern times, with Japan also periodically receiving missions from Korea, though this activity was often limited to specific ports. In late prehistory, in the Iron Age Yayoi period (300 BCE to 300 CE), Japanese culture showed some Korean influence, though whether this

1701-705: Is easier for Zainichi Koreans to naturalize into Japanese citizens. Rason Rason (formerly Rajin-Sŏnbong ; Korean pronunciation: [ɾa.sʌ̹n, ɾa.dʑin.sʰʌ̹n.boŋ] ) is a North Korean special city and ice-free port in the Sea of Japan in the North Pacific Ocean on the northeast tip of North Korea . It is in the Kwanbuk region and location of the Rason Special Economic Zone . In South Korean pronunciation ,

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1782-608: Is leading to a sharp decrease in the original "Zainichi" population in Japan. One of the most pressing issues of the Zainichi community is the rate of assimilation of Zainichi into Japan. About 4,000 to 5,000 Koreans naturalize in Japan every year out of slightly less than 480,000. Naturalization carries a crucial cultural aspect in Japan, as both Mindan and Chongryon link Korean ethnic identity to Korean nationality, and Japanese and South Korean nationality laws do not allow multiple citizenship for adults. By their definition, opting for

1863-494: Is serious doubt as to the continuing viability of the system as a whole. Mindan has also traditionally operated a school system for the children of its members, although it has always been less widespread and organized compared to its Chongryon counterpart, and is said to be nearly defunct at the present time. Out of the two Korean organizations in Japan, the pro-North Chongryon has been the more militant in terms of retaining Koreans' ethnic identity. Its policies have included: For

1944-463: Is shipped from nearby Chinese mines to Shanghai. A casino by the sea caters to Chinese visitors. Rason is divided into two district ( kuyŏk ). Rason has a humid continental climate ( Köppen climate classification : Dwb ). The Korean People's Navy maintains a naval training base at the Rajin Port in the city of Rason. In addition, a Chinese company in 2017 leased a dock for 10 years at

2025-421: The 1988 Seoul Olympics , traveling abroad was further liberalized. When Expo 2005 was held, the Japanese government had a visa waiver program with South Korea for a limited period under the condition that the visitor's purpose was sightseeing or business, and later extended it permanently. Korean enclaves tend to exclude newcomers from existing Korean organizations, especially Mindan , so newcomers have created

2106-631: The Japanese Red Cross began to receive official support from the Japanese government as early as 1956. A North Korean-sponsored repatriation programme with support of the Chōsen Sōren (The General Association of Korean Residents in Japan) officially began in 1959. In April 1959, Gorō Terao   [ Wikidata ] ( 寺尾 五郎 Terao Gorō ), a political activist and historian of the Japanese Communist Party , published

2187-629: The Jeju uprising in 1948. The Yeosu-Suncheon rebellion also increased the illegal immigration to Japan. It is estimated that between 1946 and 1949, 90% of illegal immigrants to Japan were Koreans. During the Korean War , Korean immigrants came to Japan to avoid torture or murder at the hands of dictator Syngman Rhee 's forces (e.g., in the Bodo League massacre ). Fishers and brokers helped immigrants enter Japan through Tsushima Island . In

2268-601: The Man Gyon Bong 92 with a Singaporean cruise ship called the Royale Star . Satellite images subsequently placed the Man Gyong Bong 92 in Wonsan Harbor. In September 2014, North Korea was expected to send a report to Japan that addressed the fate of the 1970s-1980s abductees. In August, though, the country made further requests for Japan to ease sanctions and provide further humanitarian aid in return for

2349-439: The Man Gyong Bong 92 from Japanese waters for six months. In early October 2006, this ban became permanent and was imposed on all North Korean vessels, following North Korea’s nuclear tests. With the Man Gyong Bong 92 no longer able to make its intended trip to Japan, North Korea refurbished the ferry to serve as a cruise ship. The Man Gyong Bong 92 's new route traveled along the east coast of North Korea between Rason , in

2430-498: The Man Gyong Bong 92 . In one instance, the threat of a thorough inspection supposedly caused the Man Gyong Bong 92 to remain in North Korea and to cancel its voyage, one that was to be the first to Japan in five months. On July 5, 2006, North Korea launched seven missiles , one of which was a long-range Taepodong-2 missile capable of reaching Alaska. While all missiles landed in the Sea of Japan , Japan responded by banning

2511-572: The Ministry of Justice , 410,156 South Koreans and 24,305 North Koreans ( 朝鮮人 , Chōsen-jin , meaning Koreans in Japanese) were registered as permanent or non-permanent residents of Japan in 2023. Below, two statistics on the numbers of foreign residents living in Japan are displayed, one map and one chart: The modern flow of Koreans to Japan started with the Japan-Korea Treaty of 1876 and increased dramatically after 1920. During World War II,

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2592-623: The San Francisco Peace Treaty , in which Japan formally abandoned its territorial claim to the Korean Peninsula, and as a result, Zainichi Koreans formally lost their Japanese nationality. The division on the Korean Peninsula led to division among Koreans in Japan. Mindan , the Korean Residents Union in Japan, was set up in 1946 as a pro-South offshoot of Chōren (League of Koreans in Japan),

2673-458: The 1950s, Japan Coast Guard secured the border with Korea, but apprehending illegal immigrants was difficult because they were armed, while Japan Coast Guard was not due to the terms of the surrender of Japan after World War II. During this period, one-fifth of the immigrants were arrested. In Official Correspondence of 1949, Shigeru Yoshida , the prime minister of Japan, proposed the deportation of all Zainichi Koreans to Douglas MacArthur ,

2754-447: The 1970s, even after it had categorically and fiercely denied for many years that the abductions had ever taken place and dismissed rumors of North Korean involvement as an allegedly "racist fantasy". Some of the recent drop in membership of Chongryon is attributed to ordinary members of Chongryon who may have believed in the party line feeling deeply humiliated and disillusioned upon discovering that they had been used as mouthpieces to deny

2835-461: The 5-day trip on both land and sea. The trip south to Mount Kumgang took about 21 hours while the trip back took about 22 hours. In contrast to the lavish send-off the ship received in Rason, the passengers were cramped into bedrooms and were assigned either a wooden bunk bed or a mattress on the floor. Meals were also simple and served “cafeteria-style”. In February 2013, North Korea reported replacing

2916-530: The American Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers , and said the Japanese government would pay all of the cost. Yoshida stated that it was unfair for Japan to purchase food for illegal Zainichi Koreans, claiming that they did not contribute to the Japanese economy and that they supposedly committed political crimes by cooperating with communists. Immediately following the end of World War II, there were roughly 2.4 million Koreans in Japan;

2997-553: The Japanese government tried to reduce the number of Koreans immigrating to Japan. To accomplish this, the Japanese government devoted resources to the Korean peninsula . In 1939, the Japanese government introduced the National Mobilization Law and conscripted Koreans to deal with labor shortages due to World War II . In 1944, the Japanese authorities extended the mobilization of Japanese civilians for labor on

3078-402: The Korean peninsula. Of the 5,400,000 Koreans conscripted, about 670,000 were taken to mainland Japan (including Karafuto Prefecture , present-day Sakhalin , now part of Russia ) for civilian labor. Those who were brought to Japan were forced to work in factories, in mines, and as laborers, often under appalling conditions. About 60,000 are estimated to have died between 1939 and 1945. Most of

3159-638: The North Korean government. In 1965, Japan concluded a Treaty on Basic Relations with the Republic of Korea and recognized the South Korean government as the only legitimate government of the peninsula. Those Koreans in Japan who did not apply for South Korean citizenship kept Chōsen-seki which did not give them citizenship of any nation. Starting in 1980, South Korea allowed its students to study abroad freely; starting in 1987, people older than forty-four were allowed to travel abroad. One year after

3240-401: The North dropped sharply, though the trickle of returnees to the North continued as late as 1984. In total, 93,340 people migrated from Japan to North Korea under the repatriation programme; an estimated 6,000 were Japanese migrating with Korean spouses . Around one hundred such repatriates are believed to have later escaped from North Korea ; the most famous is Kang Chol-Hwan , who published

3321-751: The Rajin port. Rason has a number of mineral resources within the locality, including coal , iron , magnesite , and clay . Rason is home to No 28 Shipyard Najin , a shipbuilder and supplier to the Korean People's Navy . Rajin Station is on the Pyongra Line and Hambuk Line . The Hongui Line was opened in 1959, connecting Rason with the Russian Khasan on the Tumen River ;

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3402-565: The United States government was initially unaware of Tokyo's cooperation with the repatriation programme, they offered no objection after they were informed of it; the US ambassador to Japan was quoted by his Australian counterpart as describing the Koreans in Japan as, "a poor lot including many Communists and many criminals". Despite the fact that 97% of the Zainichi Koreans originated from

3483-407: The book, North of the 38th Parallel (Japanese: 38度線の北 ), in which he praised North Korea for its rapid development and humanitarianism . Following its publication, numbers of returnees skyrocketed. The Japanese government was in favour of repatriation as a way to rid the country of ethnic minority residents that were discriminated against and regarded as incompatible with Japanese culture. Though

3564-563: The country. In August 2003, the Yomiuri Shimbun reported that a North Korean defector confessed to smuggling drugs for North Korea into Japan through the Man Gyong Bong 92 . He would deliver these drugs to a member of Chongryon, who would then deliver the drugs to the Japanese yakuza . This confession supported the U.S. State Department testimonies made in May of that year, that North Korea’s methamphetamine market in Japan provided

3645-684: The creation of the NARKN , have taken place. Social changes have occurred as well where Koreans, particular students at Chongryon schools, are harassed. And suspicions of North Korean ploys, like those regarding the Man Gyong Bong 92 smugglings, would only increase the intensity of this behavior. Sources: Zainichi Korean Koreans in Japan ( 在日韓国人・在日本朝鮮人・朝鮮人 , Zainichi Kankokujin/Zainihon Chōsenjin/Chōsenjin ) ( Korean :  재일 한국/조선인 ) are ethnic Koreans who immigrated to Japan before 1945 and are citizens or permanent residents of Japan , or who are descendants of those immigrants. They are

3726-528: The crimes of the North Korean government. In March 2006, police raided six Chongryon-related facilities in an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the June 1980 disappearance of one of the alleged abductees, Tadaaki Hara. Police spokesmen said that the head of Chongryon at the time was suspected of co-operating in his kidnapping. The operation of the Mangyongbong-92 (currently suspended),

3807-605: The failed Tokyo Chogin credit union  [ ja ] . In 2002, Shotaro Tochigi, deputy head of the Public Security Investigation Agency , told a session of the House of Representatives Financial Affairs Committee that the agency was investigating Chongryon for suspected illicit transfers of funds to the North. The image of Chongryon was further tarnished by North Korea's surprise 2002 admission that it had indeed abducted Japanese nationals in

3888-471: The first Man Gyong Bong and the Man Gyong Bong 92 offered a connection between families that were commonly separated from this movement. The Man Gyong Bong 92 was also extremely important to Chongryon as it brought them money and gifts from the North Korean government. The presence of Chongryon and the Man Gyong Bong 92 , though, was perceived as a threat towards the Japanese by having the "enemy" in their own backyard. In response, political moves, such as

3969-703: The first Man Gyong Bong , operating since 1971, was used to transport these abductees to North Korea. This assumption sparked further suspicion surrounding the ferry’s successor, the Man Gyong Bong 92 , that was still in operation. The main allegation against the Man Gyong Bong 92 was that it allowed the smuggling of illegal items to and from Japan. Specifically, it was believed that drugs and weapons were being smuggled into Japan, and cash, missile parts, and other potentially dangerous technology were secretly being taken to North Korea. These suspicions were supported by several confessions made in 2003 by former North Korean citizens and allies. In late January 2003, Kim Sang-gyu,

4050-406: The government with a profit of up to US $ 7 billion. These allegations were denied by both the North Korean government and the head of Chongryon's foreign affairs bureau, So Chung-on. While there was not enough evidence to support these allegations, that didn’t stop Japanese suspicions. Since the abduction admission, Japan began a stricter enforcement of regulations on North Korean vessels, especially

4131-481: The immigrants consisted of farmers from the southern part of Korea. The number of Koreans in Japan in 1930 was more than ten times greater than that of 1920, reaching 419,000. However, the jobs they could get on the mainland of Japan were curtailed by open discrimination and largely limited to physical labor due to their poor education; they usually worked alongside other groups of ethnic minorities subject to discrimination, such as burakumin . Before World War II ,

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4212-464: The immigrants, they were generally absorbed into Japanese society and are not considered a distinct modern group. According to the Nihon Kōki historical text, in 814, six people, including a Silla man called Karanunofurui ( Korean :  가라포고이 , Japanese: 加羅布古伊; presumed to be of gaya descent) became naturalized in Japan's Minokuni (美濃國) region. Some Koreans entered Japan in captivity as

4293-571: The initial "R" of the name is pronounced as "N", (나선, Naseon ) as per standard Korean phonology . In 2000, the name was shortened from "Rajin-Sŏnbong" to "Rason". During the 1930s, the Japanese called it Rashin; at that time, it was an important port at the end of a railroad line. It fell under the control of the Red Army on 14 August 1945. Before 1991, Rason was used by the Soviet Union as an alternative warm-water port in case Vladivostok

4374-472: The lack of a single, unified government on the Korean Peninsula, Koreans were provisionally registered under the name of Joseon ( 조선 , Japanese: Chōsen , 朝鮮 ), the old name of undivided Korea. In 1948, the northern and southern parts of Korea declared independence individually, making Joseon , or the old undivided Korea, a defunct nation. The new government of the Republic of Korea (South Korea) made

4455-410: The late 20th century, influenced by both domestic advocacy by human rights groups and international pressure. Zainichi today have established a stable presence in Japan after years of activism. Through Mintohren , community support by Zainichi organizations (Mindan and Chongryon , among others), other minority groups ( Ainu , burakumin , Ryūkyūans , Nivkhs , and others), and sympathetic Japanese,

4536-689: The later wave of Korean migrants who came mostly in the 1980s, and from pre-modern immigrants dating back to antiquity who may themselves be the ancestors of the Japanese people. The Japanese word "Zainichi" itself means a foreign citizen "staying in Japan", and implies temporary residence. Nevertheless, the term "Zainichi Korean" is used to describe settled permanent residents of Japan, both those who have retained their Joseon or North Korean / South Korean nationalities, and even sometimes includes Japanese citizens of Korean descent who acquired Japanese nationality by naturalization or by birth from one or both parents who have Japanese citizenship. According to

4617-406: The law wasn't repealed until 1993. Until then, Zainichi Koreans could not escape from the social discrimination which they had faced in Japanese society. Furthermore, it was hard for the Zainichi Koreans to get a job due to discrimination. Zainichi Koreans were often forced into low-wage labor, lived in segregated communities, and faced barriers to their cultural and social practices. Especially, it

4698-470: The main Korean residents' organisation, which had a socialist ideology. Following the May Day riots of 1952 , the pro-North organisation was made illegal, but it re-formed under various guises and went on to form the "General Association of Korean Residents in Japan", or Chongryon , in 1955. This organisation kept to its socialist, and by extension pro-North stance, and enjoyed the active financial support of

4779-540: The majority repatriated to their ancestral homes in the southern half of the Korean Peninsula, leaving only 650,000 in Japan by 1946. Japan's defeat in the war and the end of its colonization of the Korean Peninsula and Taiwan left the nationality status of Koreans and Taiwanese in an ambiguous position in terms of law. The Alien Registration Ordinance  [ ja ] ( 外国人登録令 , Gaikokujin-tōroku-rei ) of 2 May 1947 ruled that Koreans and some Taiwanese were to be provisionally treated as foreign nationals. Given

4860-504: The money to North Korea as a gift for Kim Il-sung ’s 80th birthday in 1992. The ferry could carry 200 passengers and 1,000 tons of cargo. Before Japan banned all North Korean vessels from its waters in 2006, it made about one to two round trips per month between the Port of Niigata , Japan and Wonsan , North Korea, with a one-way trip lasting about 28 hours. Most of the passengers were North Korean zainichi visiting relatives or students of

4941-517: The northeast, and Mount Kumgang , near the South Korean border. The purpose of this cruise was to boost North Korea’s tourism, the one industry that is exempt from United Nations economic sanctions. The tourists would meet in Yanji , China and drive three hours to Rason, North Korea. The Man Gyong Bong 92 would take them to Mount Kumgang, a scenic tourist destination complete with beaches and

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5022-538: The operation of the Mangyongbong-92 . Outraged senior Mindan officials joined mainstream Japanese politicians and media in sharply criticizing Chongryon's silence over the matter. During the post-World War II period, Zainichi Koreans faced various kinds of discrimination from Japanese society. Due to the San Francisco Peace Treaty , the Japanese government created laws to support Japanese citizens by giving financial support, providing shelters, etc. However, after

5103-449: The parents and daughter remained in Japan, Dear Pyongyang , won a special jury prize at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival . Some Zainichi Koreans have gone to South Korea to study or to settle. For example, author Lee Yangji studied at Seoul National University in the early 1980s. Well into at least the 1970s, Chongryon was the dominant Zainichi group, and in some ways remains more politically significant today in Japan. However,

5184-465: The parts used by North Korea to construct its missiles were brought from Japan aboard the ship. In May 2006, Chongryon and the pro-South Mindan agreed to reconcile, only for the agreement to break down the following month. North Korea's missile tests in July 2006 deepened the divide, with Chongryon refusing to condemn the missile tests, expressing only its regret that the Japanese government has suspended

5265-594: The port. This port may also be known as the Port of Rajin . The Rason Emperor Hotel and Casino is a resort and casino in Rason owned by the Emperor Group , a diversified Hong Kong based commercial group. Rajin Oil Refinery is the largest oil refinery in North Korea. Although North Korea itself lacks oil wells , they can and do import oil from other countries to supply their refineries . Large oil tankers are spotted multiple times unloading at

5346-463: The report. These requests were suspected to be aimed at the allowance of the Man Gyong Bong 92 into Japanese waters. In March 2015, Japan continued to apply sanctions against North Korea when no further reports were made regarding the abductees, leaving the Man Gyong Bong 92 anchored in Wonsan. In 2017, the ferry performed a trial run between Rason and Vladivostok , Russia . In February 2018,

5427-549: The result of the Japan–Korea Annexation Treaty , Japan annexed Korea, and all Korean people became part of the nation of the Empire of Japan by law and received Japanese citizenship. In the 1920s, the demand for labor in Japan was high while Koreans had difficulty finding jobs in the Korean peninsula . As a result, thousands of Koreans migrated or were recruited to work in industries like coal mining. A majority of

5508-475: The ship docked at Mukho , South Korea, carrying a 140-person orchestra for the 2018 Winter Olympics. The ship also carried an art troupe and was the first North Korean ship to arrive in South Korea since 2002. This ship carried, among other people, a 150 person North Korean delegation for the 2018 Winter Olympics to the port of Mukho , under a special exemption from a 16 year ban on North Korean vessels. It

5589-648: The social atmosphere for Zainichi in Japan has improved. There are also Koreans living in Japan who try to present themselves as Japanese to avoid discrimination. Most younger Zainichi now speak only Japanese, go to Japanese schools, work for Japanese firms, and increasingly marry Japanese people. Most naturalization occurs among the young during the period when they seek formal employment or marriage. Those who have already established their lives increasingly do not choose to retain their South Korean or Joseon nationality or heritage and lead average lives alongside other Japanese. This, as well as marriage to Japanese nationals,

5670-521: The southern half of the Korean Peninsula , the North was initially a far more popular destination for repatriation than the South. Approximately 70,000 Zainichi repatriated to North Korea during a two-year period from 1960 through 1961. However, as word came back of difficult conditions in the North and with the 1965 normalization of Japan-South Korea relations , the popularity of repatriation to

5751-430: The treaty was signed, Zainichi Koreans were no longer counted as Japanese citizens, so they were unable to get any support from the government. They were unable to get an insurance certificate from the government, so it was difficult for them to get any medical care. Without medical insurance, Zainichi Koreans were unable to go to the hospital since the cost of medication was too high. Another problem caused by this treaty

5832-405: The two nations. Japan's aging population and labor shortages in certain industries have created demand for foreign workers, including Koreans. Many Korean nationals have sought employment opportunities in sectors such as manufacturing, technology, healthcare, and hospitality, contributing to Japan's workforce and economy. Repatriation of Zainichi Koreans from Japan conducted under the auspices of

5913-781: The wartime laborers returned home after the war, but some elected to remain in Japan. 43,000 of those in Karafuto, which had been occupied by the Soviet Union just before Japan's surrender, were refused repatriation to either mainland Japan or the Korean Peninsula, and were thus trapped in Sakhalin, stateless; they became the ancestors of the Sakhalin Koreans . Koreans entered Japan illegally post-World War II due to an unstable political and economic situation in Korea, with 20,000 to 40,000 Koreans fleeing Syngman Rhee 's forces during

5994-526: The widening disparity between the political and economic conditions of the two Koreas has since made Mindan , the pro-South Korean group, the larger and less politically controversial faction. 65% of Zainichi are now said to be affiliated to Mindan. The number of pupils receiving ethnic education from Chongryon-affiliated schools has declined sharply, with many, if not most, Zainichi now opting to send their children to mainstream Japanese schools. Some Chongryon schools have been closed for lack of funding, and there

6075-476: Was a mass repatriation of Zainichi from Japan to the seemingly rich and prosperous North Korea. While this movement began to die down soon afterwards, over 93,000 Koreans and about 6,000 Japanese moved to North Korea between 1959 and 1984, each of them forced to remain there due to North Korea’s strict laws. As a result, this separation became a convenient way for North Korea to maintain the loyalty from repatriated citizens’ family members in Japan. Nevertheless, both

6156-522: Was accompanied by immigration from Korea is debated (see Origin of the Yayoi people ). In the later Kofun (250–538 CE) and Asuka (538–710 CE) periods, there was some flow of people from the Korean Peninsula, both as immigrants and long-term visitors, notably a number of clans in the Kofun period (see Kofun period Korean migration ). While some families today can ultimately trace their ancestry to

6237-475: Was inadequate, and access to public services like healthcare and education was severely limited. Korean children faced bullying and discrimination in schools, which often led to high dropout rates and limited their educational and, subsequently, economic opportunities. Despite these adversities, the Zainichi community has fought for their rights and has seen gradual improvements in their status in Japan. Changes in legal and social recognition began to emerge towards

6318-486: Was subsequently greeted by protesters opposing North Korea and Kim Jong-un , and protesters singing " Aegukga ", the National Anthem of South Korea . As the primary connection between North Korea and Japan, the Man Gyong Bong 92 was extremely important to North Koreans living in Japan. For many, it offered the only contact with family members residing in North Korea. During the late 1950s and early 1960s, there

6399-719: Was that the Japanese government created a law which stated that Korean residents in Japan had to be fingerprinted since Zainichi Koreans had two names (their original name and a name given by the Japanese government). Under this law, Zainichi Koreans had to reveal their identity to the public because when they visited the city hall to provide their fingerprints, their neighbors found out that they were Zainichi Koreans. Therefore, Zainichi Koreans were forced to reveal their identity to Japanese and faced discrimination from them. This made their lives even more difficult. In order to protect themselves, many Zainichi Koreans protested against this law. Mindan and many Zainichi Koreans opposed this law, but

6480-485: Was unavailable. The Soviet naval facilities were built starting in 1979. From 1993 to 2004, it was administered separately from North Hamgyŏng as the directly governed city ( chikhalsi ) of Rason. Prior to 1993 and from 2004 to 2009, the city had been part of the North Hamgyŏng Province. Since 2010, the city is a "special city", again breaking from provincial control, but different from its older designation as

6561-591: Was very hard for Zainichi Koreans to become public employees since Japan only let Japanese nationals become public employees at that time. Even of those who were able to secure jobs, many ended up working in coal mines, construction sites, and factories under harsh conditions that were markedly worse than those endured by their Japanese counterparts. The disparity was not limited to wages alone; Koreans also faced longer working hours and were subjected to physical abuse by supervisors who enforced strict discipline to maximize productivity. Since many Zainichi Koreans could not get

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