Dongui University, International Academic Symposium on the 'History and Coexistence' of Zainichi Koreans

The East Asia Research Institute of Dong-Eui University held the 21st International Academic Symposium on the theme of "The History and Layered Representations of Zainichi Koreans" at Dong-Eui University from March 31 to April 1.

At this symposium, Kwon Oh-jung, Professor Emeritus at Ryukoku University in Japan, gave a presentation titled "Why is Japan Reluctant to Embrace Multicultural Coexistence?"

Professor Kwon pointed out, "Japan has only a splendid modern era marked by enhanced military and economic power under the guiding ideology of nationalist nationalism," and added, "It still has not shown active efforts to recognize the rights and dignity of minorities such as Zainichi Koreans, Ainu, and Okinawans."

Professor Lee Soo-kyung of Tokyo Gakugei University, in a presentation titled "The 100th Anniversary of the Great Kanto Earthquake," highlighted that even now, on the 100th anniversary of the Great Kanto Earthquake, no Japanese government official has spoken out about the massacre of Koreans.

Professor Lee emphasized, "Malicious rumors arising from Japan's unpredictable natural disasters can lead to tremendous human disasters for minorities such as Zainichi Koreans."

Participants of the international academic symposium hosted by the Dong-Eui University East Asia Research Institute are taking a group commemorative photo.

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Following this, Professor Izao Tomio of Yamaguchi Prefectural University presented on "Koreans and Japanese after the Collapse of the Japanese Empire," and Professor Ko Seong-man of Jeju National University spoke on "Rewriting the Smuggling History of Jeju People from Cemeteries."

Additionally, a special lecture was given by Zainichi essayist Oh Mun-ja on the topic "The North Korean Repatriation Project That Changed My Family's Fate."

Lee Kyung-gyu, Director of the East Asia Research Institute, stated, "This international academic symposium involved passionate discussions on various issues related to the history of Zainichi Koreans so far, and it was a meaningful time for related researchers to contemplate these issues together."

Currently, the East Asia Research Institute is conducting a humanities and social sciences research institute support project funded by the Ministry of Education and the National Research Foundation of Korea under the theme "Collection, Declassification, and Database Construction of Diplomatic Documents Related to Zainichi Koreans after Liberation."

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