Mindan

Mindan (Korean: 민단, Hanja: 民團), or the Korean Residents Union in Japan (Korean: 재일본대한민국민단, Japanese: 在日本大韓民国民団), is one of two main organizations for Koreans living in Japan, the other being Chongryon. Mindan has ties to South Korea and was established in 1946 in Tokyo, Japan.[1] Currently, among the 610,000 Korean residents in Japan who have not become naturalized Japanese citizens, 65% are members of Mindan, and another 25% are members of Chongryon.

Korean Residents Union in Japan
AbbreviationMindan
FormationOctober 3, 1946 (1946-10-03)
TypeNGO
Location
Official language
Korean, Japanese
Websitewww.mindan.org
Korean Residents Union in Japan
Flag of Mindan
Japanese name
Kanji在日本大韓民国民団
Korean name
Hangul재일본대한민국민단
Hanja在日本大韓民國民團

Mindan members prefer the modern South Korean term Kankoku (韓国) to be used when discussing Korea. Chongryon members, some of whom are North Korean fellow travellers, prefer the older term Chōsen (朝鮮). Because Chōsen was the term used during the Japanese rule of Korea and North Korea does not recognize Kankoku, this causes enmity between the groups.[2]

History

Mindan was established in 1946 as the Zai-Nihon Chōsen Kyoryū Mindan (在日本朝鮮居留民団). With the founding of the South Korea in 1948 the name Chōsen was dropped, and the organization was reincorporated as Zai-Nihon Daikanminkoku Kyoryū Mindan (在日本大韓民国居留民団).[1] The Korean War (1950–1953) brought about a sharp division between members of Chongryon and Mindan, with each organization strongly supporting the North or South respectively. Mindan members went to Korea as volunteer soldiers in the conflict.[2]

As the term kyoryū, meaning "resident", became a politically sensitive term, the organization adopted its present name in 1994 by simply dropping the term kyoryū. Despite the formal renaming of the organization, it has been consistently known as Kankoku Mindan or simply Mindan in Japan.[3]

Activities

Main activities include campaigning for ahead of foreign investment regime in Japan, supporting newcomer Koreans to obtain special permanent resident, campaigning against the foreign registration order/law, and campaigning for the elimination of legal and economic disparity with Japanese.

Mindan provided food supplies for the victims of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.[4]

Affiliates
  • Republic of Korea Woman Association in Japan
  • Zainichi Korean Apprentice Volunteers' Comerade Association
  • Korean Sport Association in Japan
  • Korean Chamber of Commerce & Industry in Japan
  • Korean Youth Association in Japan
  • Republic of Korea Student Association in Japan
  • Korean Scientist Association in Japan
  • Korean Lawyer Forum in Japan
  • United Korean Credit Association in Japan
  • Korean Culture and Art Association in Japan
  • Korean Doctor Association in Japan
  • Korean School League in Japan
  • Mindan Life Introducing Center
  • Mindan North Korean Defector Support Center
  • Zainichi Korean History Museum
  • Korean schools (Kankoku gakkō)

See also

References
  1. 在日本大韓民国民団 [Mindan]. Nihon Kokugo Daijiten (in Japanese). Tokyo: Shogakukan. 2012. OCLC 56431036. Archived from the original on 2007-08-25. Retrieved 2012-08-05.
  2. 在日朝鮮人問題 [Issues of Zainichi Koreans]. Nihon Daihyakka Zensho (Nipponika) (in Japanese). Tokyo: Shogakukan. 2012. OCLC 153301537. Archived from the original on 2007-08-25. Retrieved 2012-08-05.
  3. 在日本大韓民国民団 [Mindan]. Dijitaru Daijisen (in Japanese). Tokyo: Shogakukan. 2012. OCLC 56431036. Archived from the original on 2007-08-25. Retrieved 2012-08-05.
  4. <日대지진> 피난민 "한국 곰탕.김치로 마음달래요" (in Korean). Yonhap News. 2011-04-07.


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