President Lee Hosts 80th Anniversary Meeting with Mindan: Honoring Dedication of Korean Residents in Japan

From Korean War Participation to Supporting the Seoul Olympics and IMF Crisis:
Korean Residents in Japan Stand by Their Homeland at Critical Moments

9 out of 10 South Korean Diplomatic Missions in Japan Established through Community Donations

On October 7, President Lee Jae-myung will invite representatives of the Korean Residents Union in Japan (Mindan) and members of the Korean-Japanese community to the Blue House to mark the 80th anniversary of Mindan's founding. The event is intended to reflect on Mindan's 80-year history as a central pillar of the Korean community in Japan since liberation, and to express gratitude for the dedication of Korean-Japanese compatriots who have supported their homeland during key turning points in Korea's history.

President Lee Jae-myung is speaking at the Cabinet meeting held at the Blue House on the 6th. 2026.10.6 Yonhap News Photo by Yonhap

The Blue House announced that President Lee will host a meeting at the Blue House State Guest House with Mindan officials and Korean residents in Japan later today. President Lee plans to express appreciation for Mindan's role over the past 80 years in protecting the rights and interests of Koreans in Japan, passing on the Korean language and culture to the next generation, and serving as a bridge between Korea and Japan. He will also directly listen to the challenges and suggestions faced by the Korean-Japanese community.

Founded in 1946, Mindan and the Korean-Japanese community have supported their homeland at every critical juncture in Korea’s modern history. During the Korean War, Korean volunteer student soldiers from Japan participated in the conflict; during industrialization, the community contributed to the creation of the Guro Industrial Complex. Ahead of the 1988 Seoul Olympics, they raised 10 billion yen in donations. During the Asian financial crisis, they remitted about 1.5 billion dollars to Korea.

In particular, among Korea’s 10 diplomatic missions in Japan, the land and buildings for 9 were provided through donations from the Korean-Japanese community—a remarkable symbol of their special devotion to their ancestral homeland. Their support has extended beyond financial assistance to direct contributions in establishing Korea’s diplomatic foundations.

Within Japanese society, Mindan has also continued its activities to ensure the stability of life and protect the rights and interests of Koreans in Japan. They have responded to discrimination and hatred, devoted efforts to education that preserves the Korean language and culture, and played a role in promoting people-to-people exchanges and the improvement of relations between Korea and Japan.

The Blue House stated that this meeting aims to commemorate the 80-year journey shared by the Korean-Japanese community and their homeland, while also exploring ways to sustain the identity of the next generation and further promote friendship and cooperation between Korea and Japan.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.