Korean Residents Union In Japan ('Mindan') was established on Oct. 3rd 1946, at Hibiya Public Hall, Tokyo. In 1996, Mindan has celebrated its 50th anniversary.

Setting its policy to ① improvement of the international relationship, ② economic development and peaceful reunification of Korea, ③ protection of the legal rights, ④ social welfare, and ⑤ cultural improvement of the Korean residents in Japan ('zainichi'), Mindan has carried out numerous social movements for the past half century.

As the result, the environment surrounding zainichi and Korea has changed dramatically since 1946. Moreover, Mindan has grown to become an organization with half a million members out of 700,000 Korean compatriots in Japan, which is the result materialized by the patriotism and fraternity of the first generation.

Entering the 21st century, the center of the zainichi society has shifted to the 2nd and 3rd generations. Consequently, Mindan has gone through constant innovation to actively meet the changing needs. During the 44th Central Convention held in 1994, the resolutions to rename the organization (The Japanese word 'Kyoryu', meaning settlement was omitted) and to change its regulations have passed. The social movements driven by Mindan have transformed from 'protest and impeachment' to 'peace and harmony'. With the next generation always in mind, Mindan will continue to serve as the organization of the zainichi, by the zainichi, and for the zainichi.