Mindan members are appealing for investment of local suffrage
(Jun 5th 2001, at a rally opened in Hibiya open-air concert
hall)
Since
1994, Mindan has been driving Local Suffrage Acquisition Movement
as one of the 'top priority' movements. Although 58 years
have past since the end of World War II, local suffrage rights
has not been yet granted to the zainichi. This issue is being
noticed as a problem of internationalization and democracy
of Japan. Zainichi are permanent residents, or their descendents,
living in Japan due to special historical background. Just
like the other local Japanese citizens, zainichi have been
paying various taxes including residence and income taxes
for a long period of time. Furthermore, zainichi are residents
bearing the development costs of local community. Therefore,
as local residents, zainichi are demanding for suffrage rights
of the local public bodies (prefectures and municipalities).
The president of Mindan is demanding for investment of local
suffrage at National Diet (Jun 5th 2001)
Mindan
is driving nationwide movements demanding Japanese government
to pass the legislation of local suffrage. At of Oct 31st
2003, almost half of the 1,517 local self-governing bodies
in Japan have adopted the written statement of local suffrage.
In Oct. 1998, 'Local Suffrage Investment Law for the Permanent
Foreign Residents' had been submitted to the National Diet.
However, due to the influence from the conservative wing,
symbolized by 'distortion of the history textbook' and 'worship
of the Yasukuni Shrine', the legislation has been delayed,
and the law is still held under its pending state. Mindan
will continue its effort to spread movements demanding early
legislation.
Self-governing bodies have invested referendum to the zainichi,
admitting zainichi as their 'residents living together'. (Jan.
29th 2003, Iwatsuki city, Saitama Prefecture)
Meanwhile, as the result of various activities carried out
by numerous local Mindan branches, 'Enfranchisement Movement
of Referendum for the Permanent Foreign Residents', which
is closely related to the issue of local suffrage, has been
widely accepted. As of Oct 31st 2003, zainichi in 65 self-governing
bodies (10 cities, 1 special district, 40 towns, 14villages)
are now actually exercising their voting rights. This is a
positive proof that the self-governing bodies in Japan have
admitted zainichi as their local residents. With such favorable
wind, Mindan is devoting itself in acquiring local suffrage.
Building stable
foundation to support the zainichi economy
Ethnic Monetary Facilities
Mindan is devoting itself in building Kanshin-kyou(Korean
ethnic credit unions), visioning the establishment of a sound
monetary facilities to support the zainichi economy.
For zainichi economy, mostly composed of small businesses,
ethnic monetary facilities can be considered as the 'lifeline'
supporting the zainichi society.
In 2002, together with extant credit unions and Korean Chamber
of Commerce & Industry in Japan, Mindan composed Regional
Conference for Ethnic Finance. Zainichi will unite to build
sound and trustworthy ethnic monetary facilities.
Traditional gathering where all generations
of zainichi deepen their bonds
October Madang
Bringing their children and the elder ones, families are participating in nationwide October Madang, deepening their bonds.
October Madang has been established
into the zainichi society as traditional gathering where all
generations of zainichi, from children to the elders, deepen
their bonds. Moreover, actively taking part in various matsuri(Japanese
word meaning 'traditional fiestival') of the local communities,
Mindan is introducing Korean culture as one of the diverse
expressions of the multi-culture society. Mindan will continue
to host Madang, through which all generations of zainichi,
scattered in diverse regions, can gather together and enrich
their ethnic color.
Zainichi organization of the 21st century
Welfare service for the aged and member services
From the past, Zainichi Women Association has lead welfare
services, including respect-for-the-aged meeting. Recently,
the association is running 'day-service', making use of the
local Mindan branch assembly hall.
With their sweat and tears,
the 1st and 2nd generation zainichi has built numerous ethnic
heritages, including Mindan. It is now becoming a hot issue,
how to hand down such heritages to the 3rd and 4th generations.
Having provisional incorporation in mind, Mindan has composed
Ethnic Heritage Preservation Committee to search for the solution.
Sharing common trends with the Japanese society, the zainichi
society is facing increase in the number of the aged and decline
in the number of births. To deal with such trends, Mindan
has composed Zainichi Welfare Conference, through which, 'home
for the aged', 'club for the aged', and 'day-service' are
being realized.
Seeking harmony of the zainichi society
Exchange with Souren compatriots
With the pride of being Korean, strengthen by the 2002 FIFA
World Cup which was co-hosted by Korea and Japan, we will
live together in Japanese society, as a good neighbor. (May
31st 2003, Tokyo National Stadium, zainichi fans cheering
for the Korean soccer team at a friendly match between Korea
and Japan, commemorating 1st anniversary of 2002 FIFA World
Cup)
In Sep. 2002, when Koizumi
prime minister has visited North Korea, a new diplomatic relations
between Japan and North Korea was expected. However, North
Korea has admitted the fact that they had committed national
crime of kidnapping Japanese, aggravating the relations of
the two countries.
Since the announcement of nuclear development, North Korea
has become completely isolated from the international world.
As the result, Souren is now being strongly criticized by
their fellow compatriots, where increasing number of such
compatriots are leaving the association. Keeping eye on such
situation, we are leaving our doors open with the spirit of
harmony and exchange.
Raising the next generation
Orini (Korean word meaning 'children') project
Education of the next generation is the everlasting topic
(Aug. 2002, at Seoul Orini Jamboree)
To cultivate ethnic sensibility
from the childhood, Mindan is opening Saturday Schools, together
with the ethnic and international classes.
Furthermore, as the nationwide version of summer camp, held
as a summer vacation event, Mindan opened 'Orini Seoul Jamboree'
in Korea for 2 consecutive years, starting from 2001. Children
from all over Japan, came in touch with their friends in Korea,
making them realize the pride of being Korean. Mindan is also
making efforts to spread the network of parents, sharing common
educational problems. This project was sponsored not only
from Korean MOE (Ministry of Education & Human Resources
Development), but also from Japanese MEXT (Ministry of Education,
Culture, Sports, Science and Technology). This is a positive
proof that the universality of ethnic education and multi-cultural
harmonious education was admitted as we have advocate.
Worldwide network of compatriots
Organ and various media
Mindan is making effort to strengthen the bonds among overseas
Korean compatriots. (Aug. 2003, at World Koreans Leaders Convention
held in Seoul)
As for the present, the circulation
of our organ 'Mindan Newspaper' has reached 100,000, becoming
the representative media of the zainichi society. The readership
include the members of Mindan and Souren, members of Japanese
Diet, self-governing bodies, educational institutions, and
corporations. Moreover, various institutions of Korean Government
are also subscribing the paper. Furthermore, through articles
posted on our Japanese and Korean homepage, we are spreading
our network of compatriots not only to the zainichi, but also
to home Koreans and other overseas compatriots. To become
the center of the zainichi in 21st century, we are building
nationwide network together with local headquarters and branches.
Since 1987, Mindan has advocated World Koreans Leaders Convention,
gathering Korean leaders from all around the world, every
another year.
Demanding the rights as local citizens
Mindan members are appealing for investment of local suffrage
(Jun 5th 2001, at a rally opened in Hibiya open-air concert
hall)
The president of Mindan is demanding for investment of local
suffrage at National Diet (Jun 5th 2001)
Self-governing bodies have invested referendum to the zainichi,
admitting zainichi as their 'residents living together'. (Jan.
29th 2003, Iwatsuki city, Saitama Prefecture)
Mindan is devoting itself in building Kanshin-kyou(Korean
ethnic credit unions), visioning the establishment of a sound
monetary facilities to support the zainichi economy.
Bringing their children and the elder ones, families are participating in nationwide October Madang, deepening their bonds.
From the past, Zainichi Women Association has lead welfare
services, including respect-for-the-aged meeting. Recently,
the association is running 'day-service', making use of the
local Mindan branch assembly hall.
With the pride of being Korean, strengthen by the 2002 FIFA
World Cup which was co-hosted by Korea and Japan, we will
live together in Japanese society, as a good neighbor. (May
31st 2003, Tokyo National Stadium, zainichi fans cheering
for the Korean soccer team at a friendly match between Korea
and Japan, commemorating 1st anniversary of 2002 FIFA World
Cup)
Education of the next generation is the everlasting topic
(Aug. 2002, at Seoul Orini Jamboree) 
Mindan is making effort to strengthen the bonds among overseas
Korean compatriots. (Aug. 2003, at World Koreans Leaders Convention
held in Seoul)