First, I wanted to let you know I identify as a third generation zainichi Korean. My grandparents (and great grandmother on my grandmother’s side) came to Japan over 70 years ago while Korea was under Japanese occupation.

Many zainichi Koreans have different stories, but I wanted to share mine in hopes that the people who posted their opinions on this page begin to understand the perspective of actual zainichi Koreans.

I grew up in Japan thinking I was Japanese until I was 11. My mother told me our entire family was Korean on a train ride home from visiting my sick grandfather at the hospital.

My grandfather never explained his story to my mother or taught her Korean language or history. Although he was extremely proud of being Korean, he was afraid of the discrimination she would face. So she lived her life in Japan as an assimilated zainichi Korean, keeping her identity hidden to her Japanese friends, and not knowing much about her ethnic heritage.

When she came to the states, she realized it didn’t matter whether she was Korean or Japanese here: she was simply Asian to everyone. Now as a U.S. citizen with an American daughter, she has even less ties to the zainichi Korean community in Japan.

However, we have family members with very different experiences. I have cousins who went to a North Korean school, but never supported the DPRK government. They simply went because their parents wanted them to keep up their Korean and have pride in their heritage. There is nothing “extreme” about that. I also have uncles that almost deny being Korean and having faced discrimination. They are very happy being assimilated to Japanese society. My great-grandmother was an avid supporter of the North. She believed in their independence and often sent money. I also have a great uncle who fought in the war for the South and simply despise the North, but still has enormous Korean pride. Then I have relatives who identify as both: they feel as much Korean as Japanese - as many people feel in the states (like a Mexican American feeling they have two identities: a Mexican and an American identity). Like most minority groups, zainichi Koreas are comprised of people with varying degrees of cultural identification and experiences.

My point is this: the students and community members of Chongryon schools don’t necessarily have strong political ties or beliefs for the North. They are regular people trying to live and figure out how they fit in this society. I was very disturbed by some of the generalized comments made of these schools and of zainichi Koreans, when one might not have even understood the historical context of Koreans in Japan and even of Korean history. I am always amazed to see such bold convictions made by people who have not experienced being Korean in Japan. Although it has been over sixty years since Japan ended its occupation of Korea, Koreans and other minority groups of Japan (Buraku, Ainu, Okinawan, Chinese, Filipino, etc) continue to face daily forms of institutional and personal forms of discrimination. Having pride in one’s ethnic heritage because it has been deprived from your family for generations is not a crime and it does not mean students of Chongryon Schools condone hate and thing they are better than the Japanese.

So, Mr. Williams, I was very happy to find your article and comments. Your writings have shown me how humane and rational people can be when they put aside their prejudices and simply attempt to make human connections. It has also inspired me to want to teach English in a Korean school in Japan. Do you know how I can do this? Are there certain companies or websites I could visit to get more information?

Thanks

A heartfelt kudos to you. You certainly have far more patience with monochrome-visioned people than I do.

Best wishes in your endeavors

So I think you can guess how these schools aren’t in reality as “pro-North” as term “Chogryon school” suggests, no matter what window dressing they put on. I don’t think anyone disputes that Chousen Souren’s position is officially in alignment with the North. I also have no doubt that as Mr. Williams predicts, any non-Chongryon-affiliated Korean school that opens up will draw students out of the Chongryon schools, and that Chongryon itself is on life support.

Oh, two more things,
- Last I heard, North Korea wasn’t funding the schools at all — (I doubt the reverse is true either; it makes no sense — anyway, Chongryon has pachinko parlours for its fundraising)
- There isn’t any “North Korean” citizenship for anyone to give up in Japan; Zainichi are either South Korean citizens or “Joseon” citizens (which doesn’t necessarily mean their family came from the north)

I don’t think I explained myself correctly. Those of us who have F-2 visas (spouses of Koreans) or F-5 (permanent residency visa) can work wherever we want without a work visa, even hold several jobs if we wish, but most schools won’t allow it.

Good morning all

First, let me thank all of you that have responded to my e-mail. There were a variety of opinions and I am grateful to read them all. I would like to address some of the comments made.

This article has created a much larger response than I intended (yeah) and, frankly, much larger than I able and prepared to handle (boo).

One thing, I don’t like the term “Chongryun English teacher.” It sounds a bit like “American Taliban” and may lead people to some erroneous conclusions about me. I am not a member of Chongryun, have never attended any of their official functions or rallies, and have never contributed any money to them. I teach English lessons at one very small Chongryun school (K-9, about 130 students) in Kurashiki, Japan. I usually go to the school two Saturdays a month (maybe 16 times a year) and teach two 45-minute lessons — one for 8th graders and one for 9th graders. These are typical JHS English lessons — we play games, sing songs…etc. I sometimes teach other classes, mainly when the older kids are on a field trip or something. For this, I get paid about $200 a month (about the cost of one of Dear Leader’s bottles of Chardonnay). I often eat lunch at the school on the days I teach and go to their art / sport festivals and graduations. I am a teacher and it means a lot to the kids if I show up at these things. I have been doing this for 9 years and have never been to a Chongryun school other than the one I teach at now. I have also developed personal friendships with people I work with there. I think this is only human. I work “at” one and Chongryun schools and not “for” Chongryun as a whole. My full-time job is my university. Some people may equate my very act of teaching at the school as the same as being a member of Chongryun and supporting them. Nothing I can do to change that.

I would like to get back to the main purpose of writing the article. There is friction between the zainichi population in Japan and Japanese citizens. I am sure you all know this. I am caught in this friction — I am a foreigner who teaches at schools for both. Both sides share blame in this. Many zainichi, especially those in Chongryun, have a disproportioned sense of victimization and many Japanese are ignorant of zainichi thoughts and feelings. Problem is they don’t (won’t?) talk to each other and this leads to preconceptions and mass misunderstanding on all sides that I encounter on a personal basis almost everyday. With the article, I was trying to inform people that everything is not as they think. It was not, as some people have accused me of, a propaganda piece for Chongryun. I encourage people to visit the schools and talk to the people there in hopes that this can start some kind of thaw. I may sound a bit Disney, but I have to try to do what I can in my little corner of the world. If people go to the schools and their beliefs do not change that is fine. I just want people on all sides to make an effort. By the way, I would like to applaud the Japan Times for running the piece. The newspaper industry in Japan is not the most liberal in the world.

On to the comments:

what stopped you from saying to yourself, “Someone in a position of authority at this school supports the repugnant regime in the North. On moral principles I’m not working here”?

Fair question, Douglas. I never applied for a job at the school and never did an interview. I was working for a language school in Japan (this is April 1998 and I came here in February 1998) and was told that I had to teach English at the school. As anyone who is a language teacher in a foreign country knows, when the sponsor of you visa tells you to do something, you do it. As I mentioned in my article, at that time I had no idea about zainichi, Chongryun or anything related to them. I assumed it was a school for Koreans (from Korea) who were in Japan for some reason or another. There is a Japanese school like this is Atlanta — dad got shipped to America for 3 years, brings the family and they go that that school in lieu of going to an American school. I never even saw the pictures of the Kims in the teachers’ room until about 6 months after I began teaching there. I went to the school, was met at the front door, went straight to the classroom, taught and went home. Once I saw the pictures, I began to ask questions (to the one person who could speak English since my Japanese was very limited at the time). This is when I began to learn about zainichi and Chongryun. I did entertain the thought of leaving on moral principles but some things stopped me. One, it would have meant my job, visa and life in Japan — you can call this selfish. Two, I had become friends with people there and wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt. Three, if I had left I would have joined the ranks of people out there that are ignorant of the zainichi issues (not the people who are reading this, obviously) and that would be of benefit to no one. Four, out of my own desire to learn about this situation. I have since left that English school but still teach at the Chongryun school on my own. I like it. I don’t need the money. I have a ball every time I am there and these people are my friends. I don’t know if that makes me a “moral relativist” or not. I think it does not make me an absolutist. I can’t lump the people I know personally with the actions of the entire organization no more than I can judge the Catholic church based on the pedophile priests. Again, call this Disney if you want. I can tell you have very strong beliefs and I respect them. I don’t think either one of us can persuade the other so we will have to agree to disagree.

hoju_saram; I will try to find the books your recommend. You equate me teaching at the school with me actively supporting the Kim regime. I don’t see it that way. As with Douglas, I can understand and respect your beliefs and won’t try to persuade you otherwise.

Peter Pan wrote: “you’ve never been inside a Korean school so you don’t shit about anything.”

Those are not my words and please don’t put them in my mouth. I think you earlier had made a comparison to the curriculum of the schools in Japan and those in N. Korea. I mentioned that I have never been to a school in N. Korea and doubted whether you have. I am not sure how this translates in to “you don’t know shit about anything” but that is not what I was implying. I think you may be responding to bingobangoboy, and if you are I will let you two settle accounts.

SomeguyinKorea: too bad to hear about the visa and work situation there. I have a spousal visa and can pretty much work for whoever I want.

About funding:

I am no expert on the financial workings of DPRK and Chongryun but I can tell you what I see. The money from the North is all but dried up. The Japanese government has seen to that since the missile testing and abduction cases. Money going directly out of Japan is also drying up; again, due to the Japanese government. Some people still snake around it — banks in Maccau and all. Money is Japan is drying up as the population of zainichi decreases. The school I teach at is pretty much funded by the parents and community. The building is old and rundown. They do all the repairs and upkeep on their own — the school was recently painted one room at a time by students and parents and took about 6 months to complete. I would really be surprised to see the schools around for the next generation.

About student and Chongryun numbers:

From what I can see, these are also going down. One part is due to declining birthrates — a problem for all of Japan. Nine years ago there were two JHS in Okayama. I had classes with 25 students or so. Now there is one, they combined, and there are 9 9th graders and 14 8th graders. I am also sure some people left Chongryun and put their kids in to Japanese schools. As I said before, from what I can see Chongryun is mostly for the hardcore older generations and not the affluent younger ones.

Lirelou: you may be right, I am viewing ethnic identity through American eyes. In the US we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, Octoberfest, Yom Kippur, Cinqo de Mayo, Mardi Gras and many other ethnic holidays. It is cool to show ethnic pride in the States (Kiss me, I’m Irish) and maybe I want in to be cool here. You could peg me as a cultural imperialist here and may have some truth in it.

Shakuhachi: interesting point about history — the most corruptible of subjects. I have no idea how history is taught at the school — my Korean is not near good enough. However, if they went to a Japanese school they would not get a fair picture either — Japan didn’t colonize Korea, they freed it; comfort women never existed…This could go on forever. You’re right, Chongryun does some things that cause antipathy and I have called them on this when I see it (at least at my school).

As for people who become naturalized Japanese. This is a question I have never asked. I can tell you what I do know. As I mentioned, some kids from the JHS go on to Japanese HS and some from the Chongryun HS go on to Japanese universities (like the ones at my university). I have seen these students come back to the JHS to visit, some even while wearing their HS uniforms, and have noticed no open hard feelings.

Robert: You are right, “I am proud to be a Korean” can be interpreted as “I am proud that I am not X.” We can only take the words at face value. I know the people who said them, so I have a bit more insight to what they really mean than others who just read them. One thing I do find very odd is this. Many people stress their pride in being Korean. However, the ones that go on to Japanese high schools and universities almost always start using Japanese names and not their Korean ones. Why would they do this if they were so proud (or brainwashed)? I have asked some and they say it is to prevent being bullied (again, playing the role of victim–my Japanese professor would hate me if he knew I am Korean). Nonetheless, you make a perfectly valid point. Chongryun is the de facto embassy, but I think the Japanese government prefers it this way. I am sure they would rather cut of their own arms that officially recognize Kim.

Tomojiro: I do know about the Mindan school. I can’t say why people I now send their kids to one and not the other. Maybe ideology. Kurashiki has a rather large zainichi population, big industrial area during the war and still is, and many of the kids live near the school. That might also be a reason.

Final thoughts:

-I am not trying to speak for all Koreans in Japan, Chongryun, or all Korean schools. I am just speaking about what I see at the one very small school that I teach at. I can’t say everything is good, not can I say it is all bad. So, please don’t extrapolate my comments to much bigger topics.

-Yes, I have become friends with people at the school and you could say this has biased me and you would have a point. I am trying to be as forthright as I can, though.

-schools and curriculum

This is what I see. I am sure the schools were much more ideological back in the day. Now, they are not so much from what I can tell at my one school. The kids at these schools are going to live their whole lives in Japan and have to be able to do so. Their families run businesses, farms, restaurants…etc and the kids have to be able to continue this ideology be damned. I think the main purpose of the schools now is to teach them “how to live in Japan as (middle-class) Koreans” and not how to further the revolution or undermine Japan. This may be the biggest reason why membership in Chongryun and student numbers are decreasing. I do think, however, that preserving their identity as Korean (not North or South–I am talking about language, dance, music…) is a very valuable role that these schools play. I think JiMong’s post is the best in saying this.

-Chongryun

I think this is in its last days. It may already be dead if it did not server as the de fact embassy. I don’t know why everyone who is in it is in it. This is what I have heard from some. Ideology–they believe it. Spite–they hate Japan for the colonization (odd though, they never leave Japan and have a much better live here than they would ever have in PDRK). Fear–I know one lady, about 80, who says her brother is in the North because that is where he was when the line was drawn. She supports Chongryun, on the outside anyway, to protect her bother. Members of her family are effectively hostages in the North.

One thing to keep an eye on in the future. I have heard there will be a “Seoul International School” (K-12) opening in Osaka next year (big Chongryun area). The school is affiliated with a university in S. Korea if I am not mistaken and will teach all content in Korean. It will be interesting to see how many kids from Chongryun schools switch out to this new school. It definitely would not have the stigma and would make going to a Japanese university, or one in S. Korea, much easier.

Anyway, I have gone on to long. This will be my last post–I am preparing for a tenure review and mid-term exams. On top of that, there has been a measles outbreak among university students that has everyone in a panic.

For those that offered support / agreement. Thank you.

For those that did not. Thank you as well. As Oscar Wilde said, “I hate it when people agree with me. It makes me think I am right.”

Thank you to Robert for having this forum. I have learned a lot as I hope we all have. This may be the most articulate and civil blog I have ever been on.

If you ever are in Japan or in Okayama and would like to visit a school, please let me know and I can set it up. It might change your mind or reinforce your beliefs. Either way, it is worth a shot.

Jason Williams

I believe you did right thing to post article about Chongryun school, Mr. Williams, and also hope your efforts rewarded by better future of these kids. Thank you.

I am looking forward to watch this documentary about a Chongryun school in Hokkaido.

“Uri Hak Gyo; Our school 2006″

http://www.pandora.tv/my.startoday/4757688

As a Japanese I must say, that I have mixed feeling. I agree with the spirit of Mr. Williams,though. But there are problems which Robert has pointed out.

By the way, there are several Korean schools which are related to the 民団(organization for the South Korean zainichi) in Japan.

If you are interested, here is a link (in Japanese) of a school in Kyoto.

http://web.kyoto-inet.or.jp/org/kkgakuen/

Sorry Shak, I am definitely not buying the idea that graduates of Chongryun schools refer to themselves as “Kankokujin/Hangugin” They always only say “uri choson’in/chosenjin.”

You are right, but I have heard them use it interchangeably, depending on whether they are being inclusive of South Koreans as well (in this case, yes). Usually they say 朝鮮籍　(chousen seki).