omonatheydid | Japan to revise rules on alien registration cards For Korean-Japanese Citizens (Reply)

May 23, 2009
Japan’s political parties yesterday agreed to repeal a rule that forces certain Korean-Japanese there to carry alien registration cards at all times.

The alien registration card has been cited as an example of Japanese discrimination against foreigners, especially Korean-Japanese who make up a large segment of society. Korean-Japanese there say the decision opens a new chapter for their human rights.

According to Japanese media reports, Japan’s ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito Party and the opposition Democratic Party tentatively agreed to withdraw a bill that was to make it mandatory for Koreans born in Japan to carry a “new certificate card for special residents.”

The Japanese government plans to replace the alien registration card with new certificate cards containing detailed information about foreign individuals living in the country.

The requirement to carry the card at all times will end in 2012 following a legal revision, according to reports.

Currently, when a non-Japanese citizen - including one born in Japan to foreign parents - intends to stay in Japan for 90 days or more, that person is required to file his or her address with the local government and carry an alien registration card at all times.

Even permanent residents, such as Korean-Japanese, are obligated to follow the alien registration law, enacted in 1952.Violators may be imprisoned with hard labor or subject to fines.

The problems for Koreans there date from the 1940s, during the Japanese colonial rule of Korea. The Japanese government issued alien registration cards to the workers it forcibly mobilized from Joseon, the name for Korea at the time, during World War II.

Of the up to 2 million Koreans drafted for labor in Japan, 1.6 million returned home after the war, but the rest stayed behind as stateless “special residents.” Today, Korean-Japanese are estimated to number 600,000.

The legal change, if made, will mean a second big historic step for ethnic Koreans in Japan. In 1993, Japan revised a related law to exempt special permanent residents from a finger-printing requirement, saying the practice was a violation of human rights.

It was being applied to all non-Japanese workers and students staying in Japan for one year or longer, as well as to foreigners married to Japanese nationals and other foreign permanent residents.

The alien registration card has been used as a tool of discrimination against ethnic Koreans, according to Kang Woo-suk, leader of a group representing Korean-Japanese.

“When a Korean-Japanese commits a traffic offense, police ask him to produce a driver’s license first. If the name on it shows a hint of Korean origin, police request an alien registration card,” he said. “If found without the card, it is considered a flagrant offense, subject to a fine of 100,000 yen [$1,061]. This kind of practice was prevalent up until early 2000.”

Over the past five to six years, as some Korean entertainers gained popularity in Japan, the strict enforcement against Japanese-Koreans has lessened, he added.

The alien registration system has also been a major obstacle to employment, promotion and business and school admission for ethnic Koreans, Kang said.

Such treatment of them has led an increasing number of Korean-Japanese to opt to become naturalized Japanese.

According to Kwon Chul-hyeon, Korea’s ambassador to Japan, around 7,000 to 8,000 Japanese-Koreans are becoming Japanese citizens each year.

“It is true that the human rights of ethnic Koreans are being greatly improved. But permission for their voting rights in local elections remains to be tackled,” said Kwon.

“Since Korean-Japanese are serving their duties as members of the Japanese society, they should have their rights guaranteed,” Kwon added.

JoongAng Daily

I thought this was a interesting article because it shows you what Koreans who live or are born in Japan have to go through. Along with Korean entertainers like DBSK, SS501,BoA and soon to be Big Bang when they work in Japan.

Spoons

~Korean-Japanese, are obligated to follow the alien registration law, enacted in 1952.
~Violators may be imprisoned with hard labor or subject to fines.
~Today, Korean-Japanese are estimated to number 600,000.
~The legal change, if made, will mean a second big historic step for ethnic Koreans in Japan
~The alien registration card has been used as a tool of discrimination against ethnic Koreans
~Such treatment of them has led an increasing number of Korean-Japanese to opt to become naturalized Japanese.
~Around 7,000 to 8,000 Japanese-Koreans are becoming Japanese citizens each year.

I wonder if this card deal applies to half Koreans like Miyavi (Korean name Lee Ki-Ah 이 키아) or Crystal Kay etc.
Does anyone have an answer to that?