ABSTRACT
For Koreans in Japan, the idea of One Korea’ is far from being realized. Divisions within Korean community persist. First, both in date of origin and ethnic consciousness, though not now in numbers, comes the North Korea affiliated General Association of Korean Residents in Japan, in Japanese the Zai-Nippon Chosenjin Sorengokai, generally abbreviated to Soren. The other organization is the South Korea affiliated Korean Residents’ Union in Japan, in Japanese the Zai-Nippon Daikan Minkoku Kyoryumindan, abbreviated to Mindan. Third is a grouping which is oriented more towards the practical needs of the community in Japan. It consists mainly of younger Koreans less tied to the homeland and a considerable number of Japanese activists sympathetic to them and genuinely dedicated to an internationalist ideal. Its main focus is the Liaison Association for Fighting Ethnic Discrimination, abbreviated to Mintoren. A fourth type of grouping is formed by clubs of naturalized Koreans who still wish to preserve their ethnicity. They are called Seiwakai.
