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| A scene from the film, "Discrimination" / Courtesy of D.O. Cinema |
By Kwak Yeon-soo
In 2010, the Japanese government waived high school tuition fees to reduce the burden of household education costs. However, 10 Chosun schools, providers of education for ethnic Koreans in Japan, were excluded from tuition exemptions because of their association with North Korea.
The government cited the connection between Chosun schools and Chongryun, a pro-North Korean organization in Japan, as the reason for exclusion. There are roughly 70 Chosun schools in Japan that were founded in the 1940s by ethnic Koreans who came to the country to work in mines and factories. The schools were built and financially supported by the North Korean regime.
The documentary film "Discrimination" traces two years of legal battles between Chosun schools in Nagoya, Osaka, Hiroshima and Kita-Kyushu in Fukuoka Prefecture and the Japanese government ― from Osaka District Court's first trial ruling to approve the eligibility of Osaka Korean High School in July 2017 to the Supreme Court's ruling in favor on the government's decision to exclude Tokyo Korean Junior and Senior High School in August 2019.
Directed by Kim Ji-woon and Kim Do-hee, the film approaches the subject not simply as a matter of ethnic discrimination but a violation of fundamental human rights, in particular, the right to education.
It tells of the struggle of ethnic Korean living in Japan; teachers, students and lawyers who have been battling to protect Chosun schools.
"I wanted to inform the audience about the Japanese government's violation of human rights and discrimination against Koreans living in Japan and Chosun schools, which has continued for nearly 80 years since Korea's liberation," director Kim Ji-woon said during a recent press conference for the film.
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| The poster for the film, "Discrimination" / Courtesy of D.O. Cinema |
"Everyone has the right to education, and I hope the audience no longer turns a blind eye to Japan's discrimination policy resulting from ideological tendencies."
Although the film has critical undertones about Japan, director Kim Do-hee said the government is to blame, not the people.
"The ones who harassed Koreans the most are Japanese, but it's the Japanese who helped out the students the most. Please don't get the message wrong. The Japanese government should be held responsible for its discriminatory policy," she said.
Some viewers may raise questions, such as, "Why should South Koreans care about Chosun schools? They are pro-North Korea schools." However, director Kim argues that the South Korean government should not remain silent about the issue because it holds historical responsibility for colonialism and the division of Korea.
Chosun schools teach courses in Korean and promote raising awareness on Korea.
Some students of the school say they are fans of K-pop acts like BTS and TWICE, recounting their enjoyable trips to South Korea.
"Discrimination" will hit local theaters on March 22.
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