Ethnic Korean support group awarded for improving democracy

Actor and activist Kwon Hae-hyo, second from right, poses after Mongdang Pencil, a Seoul-based civic organization working for improving rights for ethnic Koreans living in Japan led by him, won the fourth Kim Geun-tae award for its contributions to democracy in Seoul, Dec. 27. Courtesy of Mondang Pencil

By Park Ji-won

Mongdang Pencil, a Seoul-based civic organization supporting rights for ethnic Koreans in Japan, was awarded for promoting democracy.

The award committee of the Democracy Activist Kim Geun-tae Award said the civic organization became the fourth winner of the award on Dec. 27 for its contributions to giving hope to the children studying in Korean schools in Japan.

Mongdang Pencil was founded in March 2011 by actor and activist Kwon Hae-hyo and singer songwriters Lee Ji-sang and Ahn Chi-hwan after Japan was struck by an earthquake, tsunami and nuclear accident. It has been working for improvement of rights for Zainichi Koreans or ethnic Koreans residing in Japan, many of whom have been suffering from hate crimes and discrimination in Japan since before World War II. Ethnic Koreans account for the largest group of immigrants in Japan, being ideologically divided in two: those who support the South and those who support the North.

The organization has been focusing on tackling the discrimination issue regarding education for those ethnic Korean schools called Urihakkyo in particular, as Japanese prefectures began pulling their subsidies for those education facilities citing political reasons.

The Kim Geun-tae foundation began giving out the annual “Democracy Activist Kim Geun-tae Award” in 2016 to honor pro-democracy activists throughout the year. Kim Geun-tae was one of the most prominent pro-democracy activists in Korea serving as a lawmaker, health minister and head of the ruling party.