This file photo shows members of a Japanese right-wing group offering prayers at Yasukuni Shrine. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, April 7 (Korea Bizwire) – Five years have passed since the Japanese government enacted legislation to prevent hate speech, but Korean compatriots in Japan are still exposed to everyday discrimination.
The Korean Resident Union in Japan conducted a survey of 1,497 Korean compatriots currently studying at high school, university, and graduate school in Japan who have been awarded scholarships by its foundation, 70 percent among whom said they have been subjected to hate speech by Japanese right-wing extremists in the streets or online.
Among them, 30 percent have been verbally abused with discriminatory remarks, while the remaining 40 percent were subject to discriminatory treatment from public institutions or real estate agencies.
As much as 30 percent of the respondents said they had stopped using the internet after running into hate speech videos online, and struggled from anxiety and fear.
Another 17.8 percent said they suffered from discrimination when they used their Korean names, 15 percent when they used both Korean and Japanese names, and 7.3 percent when using Japanese names only, indicating that they are more likely to experience discrimination when their ethicity is revealed.
“Most of the newcomers who settled in Japan after the 1980s retain their Korean names, while those who became naturalized Japanese citizens or have lived in Japan since the colonial times use Japanese names,” said an official at the foundation.
“Having to use these Japanese names is the very byproduct of discrimination in Japan.”
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
