North Korean Schools in Japan: The Education of a Denationalized Population

A community of North Koreans has been living in Japan for over 70 years, including long-established schools that serve the community. During early post-war years, while North and South Korea were still becoming established as nations, these North Korean schools grew and expanded. In more recent decades their numbers have dwindled steadily, but the emergence of Japanese educational benefits, such as high school tuition waiver programs, have led to rising friction between the Japanese and Korean communities. Included in the waiver is a specific “anti-Chosen” clause, leading many to file suits and claim the dismissal is unconstitutional, discriminatory, and yet another sign of Japan’s persecution of its Zainichi population. This thesis seeks to determine if there is any credibility to those claims. There is a history of animosity between these communities stemming largely from World War II and many complications over the fact of their residence within Japan. Case studies of Chosen students who have been raised in the school system are analyzed, as well as reviews of legal cases and Japanese educational policy, to determine the most logical outcome. Japanese language sources are included to ensure that more recent data is incorporated into the analysis. The thesis concludes that the primary reason Chosen schools are not receiving funding is their failure to adhere to Japanese educational standards. However, their connection to North Korea could also add credence to claims of discrimination.