Dong-Eui University East Asia Research Institute and Kyungpook National University Social Science Research Institute Hold International Symposium

Participation of Korean and Japanese Experts on the Topic of 'Formation and Changes of the Zainichi Korean Community'

The East Asia Research Institute at Dong-Eui University (Director Lee Kyung-gyu) and the Social Science Research Institute at Kyungpook National University (Director Shin Hyung-jin) jointly held an international academic symposium on the 8th at Dong-Eui University's 2nd Humanities Building, with experts from Korea and Japan participating, under the theme "Formation and Transformation of the Zainichi Korean Community."

The first presentation was given by Professor Lee In-ja from Tohoku University in Japan, who argued in her presentation titled "Transition and Reconstruction of the Zainichi Korean Community" that the Korean community in Japan faces the issue of how the Mindan organization and the newly formed Korean Association should integrate moving forward, emphasizing that mutual cooperation is paramount for the sustainable future generations of Zainichi Koreans.

Following this, Professor Lee Kyung-gyu from Dong-Eui University, in his presentation titled "Discrimination Issues of Zainichi Koreans Seen Through Diplomatic Documents," mentioned that the history of Zainichi Koreans after liberation is a history of fighting numerous discrimination issues such as acquiring permanent residency, employment discrimination, and the fingerprinting system, and pointed out that issues like suffrage remain unresolved.

Senior Researcher Park Shin-gyu from Kyungpook National University, in his presentation "Recording Memories," analyzed oral testimonies of first- and second-generation atomic bomb victims from Hapcheon and pointed out that it is time for the governments of Korea and Japan to take a more active role in addressing health problems and economic conditions resulting from the aftereffects of the atomic bombing.

The final presenter, Professor Emeritus Lee Chang-ik from Jeju National University, emphasized in his presentation "The Lives of Zainichi Jeju Residents Seen Through Merit Monuments" that it is crucial to utilize the records of contributions engraved on merit monuments?commemorating Jeju people who migrated to Japan and devoted themselves to the development of their hometown Jeju despite numerous hardships?in the education of future generations.

Chairman Lee Tae-jae of the Korean Atomic Bomb Victims' Descendants Association also participated as a discussant in this symposium, mentioning that the Japanese government still conceals the fact that over 10% (100,000 people) of atomic bomb victims in Japan in 1945 were Koreans, and argued that active efforts should be made to publicize this fact worldwide.

Currently, the East Asia Research Institute at Dong-Eui University is conducting a project supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea titled "Collection, Declassification, and Database Construction of Diplomatic Documents Related to Zainichi Koreans After Liberation." The Social Science Research Institute at Kyungpook National University is also conducting a project supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea under the theme "Korean Diaspora Digital Archive: AI-Based Convergent Database Construction and Translocality Reinterpretation."

The two research institutions signed an MOU on April 26 at Kyungpook National University to promote academic exchange.

The Dong-Eui University East Asia Research Institute and the Kyungpook National University Social Science Research Institute are holding an international academic symposium and taking a commemorative photo.