School doc sparks heavy criticism

After the documentary “Children’s School” (translated) - depicting the history of how students of Chosen Gakko (pro-North Korean schools) survived suppression and discrimination from the Japanese government - was screened at the National Diet in Japan on Tuesday, Maekawa Kihei, former vice education minister of Japan, accused the Japanese government of provoking “hate speech.”

“This is hate speech made from the government [targeting a particular group],” he announced after watching the movie.

The Chosen Gakko were established by Koreans who went to Japan during the World War II era. They were funded by the North Korean government and the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan. The schools, however, have been suppressed by the government since 1948, when the government announced the shutdown of the schools.

Although the suppression eventually ended, conflict once again broke out in 2010 when the government took steps to provide free high school tuition, while trying to exclude Chosen Gakko on their list.

Maekawa has long been in support of these schools, criticizing the government for carrying out such exclusive policy.

There are currently 68 Chosen Gakku in Japan, attended by both Korean and Japanese students.

By Yeo Ye-rim