Greetings to all of our members and Zainichi!
I sincerely wish you the very best luck for year 2007, and would like to state my conviction on the operation of Mindan.

Highly potential Mindan

Zainichi society, with history of more than a century, is one of the most successful cases among countless overseas Korean societies and minor ethnic societies. Taking pride in our roots and valuing the bond with our mother country, Mindan leis at the center of Zainichi society. Moreover contributing to coextistence and coprosperity of North East Asia Mindan holds the possibility of further prosperity.

Such possibility was realized by carrying out our faith in building social organization despite political and economical challenges. Power of Mindan is inevitable for future development of Zainichi society. For such reasons, last year was supposed to be a splendid chance to prepare for the future, sharing pride and joy of the 60th anniversary of Mindan.

Enhancing symbiotic relationship

Despite our expectations, Mindan faced serious damage due to 5.17 incident last year. In the midst of repairing organization, regrets still remain. Bearing the responsibility for future Mindan, we must change our mind and turn regrets into valuable lesson.

At the end of last year, Japanese government had strengthened nationalistic basis passing the Educational Basic Law emphasizing love for one's country. The environment surrounding us Zainichi is getting even depressing after the North Korean kidnap and nuclear test. North Korean nuclear weapon and rising political difficulties caused by South Korean presidential election will affect both Japanese and Zainichi societies.

We should stay alert on grim political situation surrounding us, while utilizing factors working in favor of us.

Cultural interchanges between Korea and Japan are at high tide accelerating mutual understanding. Furthermore, economical ties among Korea, Japan, and China are even tightened. We are living in an era where political hostility can no longer stop cultural and economical interchanges, providing us the way to survive.

Major activities of Mindan such as removing discrimination, building friendship between Korea and Japan, and acquiring local suffrage rights made positive influence over building multi-cultural symbiotic society in Japan. Moreover such change in Japan improves North East Asian relationships. This is why we should effectively utilize the foundation built so far and further enhance symbolic relationship in Japan.

Specialization and financial reform

Organizational capability is the key factor in realizing our idea. Mindan suffers from lack in both human and financial resources. While carrying out our major projects effectively, I will focus on following criteria :

1. Perfection of internal communication.
By sharing information on our problems with members and staffs nationwide, we will speed up our process of making decisions on what and how to solve.

2. Education of chief staffs.
There are plenty examples where companies and organizations take a leap after reforming their organization. Mindan will train and educate chief staffs maximizing each one's capabilities.

3. Reform of finance.
By cultivating new source of revenue, Mindan will strengthen independency in basic finance. Moreover by completely reviewing financial management of central headquarter, we will streamline our management process and make considerations for local headquarter finance.

I believe strong will is the only key to cure Mindan standing on the edge of a precipice. We should demonstrate our potential power by keep sharing the sense of emergency. We should not forget that the future of Zainichi is in our hands.

Once again I sincerely wish you the very best luck for year 2007.