Yoon, Meeting with Zainichi Koreans... "Working Together for a Future-Oriented Korea-Japan Relationship"

"During Difficult Times in Korea-Japan Relations, a Pillar for Zainichi Koreans"
"Korea-Japan Friendly Cooperation Will Continue to Develop Closely"

President Yoon Suk-yeol is taking a commemorative photo with attendees at a meeting hosted by the Korean Residents Union in Japan held on the 24th at the Yongsan Presidential Office Building in Seoul.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the afternoon of the 24th, President Yoon Suk-yeol held a meeting with representatives of the Zainichi Korean Residents Union in Japan (Mindan) at the Yongsan Presidential Office and requested, "Please continue to join the government's efforts to open a future-oriented Korea-Japan relationship."

President Yoon expressed gratitude for the support and encouragement given to the government's efforts, saying, "During the period when Korea-Japan relations were frozen coldly, the Zainichi Koreans endured many hardships while serving as a strong pillar for the bilateral relationship."

Mindan is a representative organization that works to protect the rights and improve the legal status of Zainichi Koreans.

President Yoon said, "We will continue to closely develop a friendly and cooperative relationship between Korea and Japan so that Zainichi Koreans can actively engage in activities in Japan," and urged, "Mindan, as a central point of the Korean community, to demonstrate leadership in unification by embracing Koreans with different backgrounds and interests and leading harmony."

Kim Yi-jung, head of Mindan's Central Headquarters, said that Korea-Japan relations improved following President Yoon's visit to Japan last year, which greatly encouraged Zainichi Koreans, and added, "Ahead of the 60th anniversary of Korea-Japan diplomatic normalization next year, Mindan will also actively work towards Korea-Japan friendship and goodwill."

Lee Soo-won, head of Mindan's Tokyo Headquarters, said that the significant increase in Korean visitors to Japan made him feel the improvement in Korea-Japan relations, and Lim Tae-soo, chairman of Mindan's Central Headquarters, requested improvements to the overseas election system, such as providing prior information and pre-registration, so that more overseas Koreans can participate in elections.

Additionally, Kim Myung-hong, head of Mindan's Osaka Headquarters, expressed hope that Korea-Japan friendly exchanges would become more active, taking advantage of the 60th anniversary of Korea-Japan diplomatic normalization and the Osaka Expo next year.

The meeting was held to encourage Mindan's efforts for bilateral friendship and to listen to the voices of Zainichi Koreans.

About 20 Mindan officials, including head Kim Yi-jung, attended along with Presidential Chief of Staff Jeong Jin-seok, National Security Office Director Shin Won-sik, Presidential Foreign and Security Special Advisor Jang Ho-jin, and Overseas Koreans Office Director Lee Sang-duk.