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"Due to Korean Hate"... Man Who Set Fire in a Collective Residence of Zainichi Koreans Admits Charges in First Trial

20s Japanese Man Committed Arson in Utoro Village Last August
Prosecutors: "Failed to Adapt at Work and Became Unemployed... Hate Crime Against Koreans to Overcome Inferiority Complex"

"Due to Korean Hate"... Man Who Set Fire in a Collective Residence of Zainichi Koreans Admits Charges in First Trial On the 27th of last month, Jung Woo-kyung (81), a second-generation Korean resident in Japan, explained about the Utoro house that was burned down in an arson attack last August in Utoro Village, Uji City, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. [Image source=Yonhap News]


[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] A man arrested last year on suspicion of setting fire to the Utoro village, a residential area of Korean residents in Japan, admitted to the charges in court. The prosecution pointed out in their statements that "the incident was committed by a young man who, unable to adapt to his workplace and unemployed, was consumed by hatred toward Koreans."


According to local media including Kyodo News on the 16th, Arimoto Shogo (22), who was indicted on charges of setting fire to houses in Utoro village, said at the first trial held at the Kyoto District Court that he "acknowledges the arson charges as true."


According to the indictment, Arimoto is accused of setting fire around 4:10 p.m. on August 30 last year to a vacant house in the Utoro district of Uji City, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan, burning seven buildings including houses and warehouses in the area. The fire destroyed dozens of items including the Seum signboards used by the Korean residents in Utoro for their anti-demolition protests, among which about 40 historical materials stored in a warehouse for exhibition at the soon-to-open Utoro Peace Memorial Hall were lost.


Arimoto’s crimes did not end there. He was also indicted for setting fire to the Aichi Prefecture headquarters of the Korean Residents Union in Japan (Mindan) and the Nagoya Korean School facilities in July last year, damaging building walls and other property. It is reported that Arimoto also admitted to the arson in Aichi Prefecture.


There is an analysis that Arimoto’s crimes were hate crimes directed at Koreans. During the investigation by authorities, he reportedly stated, "I hated Korea," and during a meeting with the Asahi Shimbun on the 13th, he is said to have explained his motive as intending "to instill fear in the Korean residents in Japan and drive them out."


At the trial on this day, the prosecution explained that Arimoto decided to commit arson in a state where feelings of hatred toward Koreans were entangled with his inferiority complex caused by his inability to adapt to work and unemployment.


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