President Lee Meets Korean Residents in Japan: "Will Not Forget Role as Bridge Connecting Korea and Japan"

President Lee Jae-myung stated today (October 7), "The government will do its utmost to support ethnic Koreans living in Japan, who are living witnesses to the history between our two nations, so that they can live without inconvenience in the places they call home."

Speaking at a meeting held at Cheong Wa Dae that day to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Korean Residents Union in Japan (Mindan), President Lee said, "The growth and development of the Republic of Korea that we enjoy today is imbued with the blood and sweat of our Korean compatriots in Japan and their ancestors, who worried about the future of their homeland and lent their strength."

President Lee highlighted the fact that Japan is the only place in the world where ethnic Koreans directly donated nine overseas diplomatic missions.

He added, "Mindan has served as a steadfast pillar standing up against discrimination in Japanese society for many years to protect our compatriots' rights and interests, and whenever difficulties arose between Korea and Japan, it admirably played the role of a bridge connecting the people of both nations," promising, "The Republic of Korea will not forget that history."

He further urged, "For the development of Korea-Japan relations, the role of ethnic Koreans in Japan—who understand both countries better than anyone and can connect the two societies—is crucial," asking Mindan to "take the lead so that the evolving community of Korean residents in Japan can remain tightly united beyond worlds and backgrounds."

(Photo courtesy of the Cheong Wa Dae Press Corps, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.