South Korea's Lee hosts Korean residents from Japan for Mindan's 80th anniversary
In short
President Lee Jae-myung invited officials and members of the Korean Residents Union in Japan (Mindan) to the Blue House on Oct 7 to mark the group's 80th anniversary. The Blue House said Lee would thank them for their dedication and hear their difficulties and requests directly. Attention was on whether Lee would send a message on South Korea–Japan relations at the meeting.
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President Lee Jae-myung invited officials and members of the Korean Residents Union in Japan, known as Mindan, to the Blue House on Oct 7 for a meeting marking the organisation's 80th anniversary, according to the Blue House. The president was to thank them for what the Blue House described as 80 years of dedication and service, and to hear the difficulties and requests of Korean residents in Japan directly. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Mindan was founded in 1946 and has served as the focal point of the Korean community in Japan, working to protect residents' rights, pass on Korean language and culture to the next generation and act as a bridge between the two countries, the reports said. The community also faced discrimination and hostility in Japanese society, according to Seoul Economic Daily and Asia Economy, which described ongoing work on living stability and rights. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
The outlets listed the community's contributions during key moments in South Korean history: student volunteers who fought in the Korean War, support for the creation of the Guro industrial complex during industrialisation, 10 billion yen raised ahead of the 1988 Seoul Olympics and about US$1.5 billion sent home during the 1997 foreign exchange crisis. Land and buildings for nine of South Korea's ten diplomatic missions in Japan were provided through donations from Korean residents, the reports said. [ 1 , 2 ]
Yonhap reported that attention is on whether Lee will deliver a message on South Korea–Japan relations at the meeting, noting that he has resumed “shuttle summit diplomacy” since taking office. SBS News carried the same point. No document said a message on the relationship was confirmed, or that specific support measures for the community would be announced. [ 3 , 4 ]
Seoul Economic Daily reported that Lee was expected to look at government-level support measures after hearing from residents, and that the Blue House planned to use the meeting to strengthen ties with the community and stress Mindan's role in identity education for future generations and in South Korea–Japan friendship. The other documents did not state this. [ 2 ]
Why it matters
The reception puts the South Korean government's ties with the Korean community in Japan on the public agenda at a time when Seoul has restarted shuttle summit diplomacy with Tokyo, according to Yonhap. It also signals continued attention to identity and language education for younger generations of overseas Koreans, the Blue House said. The documents give no indication of new policy measures being announced.
Key facts
- President Lee Jae-myung held a meeting with Mindan officials and Korean residents in Japan at the Blue House on Oct 7 to mark Mindan's 80th anniversary. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The Blue House said Lee would thank Mindan for its dedication and service over 80 years and would hear the residents' difficulties and suggestions in person. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Mindan was founded in 1946 and has served as a focal point for the Korean community in Japan, working to pass on Korean language and culture and to act as a bridge between the two countries. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- According to the reports, Korean residents in Japan sent student volunteers during the 1950-53 Korean War, supported the creation of the Guro industrial complex during industrialisation, raised 10 billion yen before the 1988 Seoul Olympics and sent about US$1.5 billion home during the 1997 foreign exchange crisis. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Land and buildings for nine of South Korea's ten diplomatic missions in Japan were provided through donations from Korean residents, the reports said. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Yonhap reported that Lee has resumed “shuttle summit diplomacy” since taking office. [ 3 ]
- Attention was on whether Lee's message on South Korea–Japan relations would come up at the meeting. [ 3 , 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Lee Jae-myung hosted Mindan officials and Korean residents in Japan at the Blue House on Oct 7 for the group's 80th anniversary. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The Blue House said the president would express thanks for Mindan's 80 years of dedication and service and would listen to the residents' difficulties and requests. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Mindan was founded in 1946 and has been the focal point of the Korean community in Japan, promoting Korean language and culture and acting as a bridge between the two countries. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- Whether Lee will deliver a message on South Korea–Japan relations at the meeting. Yonhap and SBS News both say only that attention is on whether such a message will come out; no outlet states that one is planned.
- Whether the government will present concrete support measures for Korean residents in Japan. Seoul Economic Daily says such measures are expected to be reviewed, but no other document states this and no measure has been announced.
- The specific time of the meeting. The documents say only that it takes place on Oct 7, without giving a time.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Asia Economy reports the Blue House will host Mindan officials and Korean residents at the Yeongbingwan guest house for the 80th anniversary meeting. [ 1 ]
- Seoul Economic Daily reports Lee will thank the community for its contributions and hear its difficulties and policy suggestions. [ 2 ]
- Yonhap reports the Blue House announcement and notes attention on a possible message about South Korea–Japan relations. [ 3 ]
- SBS News reports the same Blue House statement and Mindan's 80-year role as a bridge between the two countries. [ 4 ]