Whose school is it?

            The movie ‘Our School’ directed by Kim Myung Joon, stands out from other movies that have been shown throughout the course. Other than the short clip we have watched at the beginning of the semester, this is a documentary film that shows the Chosen school and the students attending that school in Hotkaido, Japan. At first, I was surprised to hear the Korean accent of the students and teachers, and what were sang through the lyrics of songs – it seemed, way too ‘North Korean’. Then I realized that the students were second and third generation of Korean immigrants to Japan (before the Koreas were split into North and South). It is mentioned in the reading that the parents “send[ing] their children to Chongryun schools do so for the instruction in Korean language and heritage” (Ryang 63), but it would be more precise to say “to keep the North Korean language, heritage and ideology”. Even during the sports day (field day), they hung the North Korean flag, and called North Korea their “fatherland”. It was shocking to see that the school took “its students for “fatherland visitation” trips” (Ryang 67) before graduation. Why then would the director call the movie ‘Our School’?

           It is not that I am opposed to unification, but seeing a documentary of Hotkaido Chosun School (who receive North Korean education), it seemed that there were too many differences among two Koreas. (I guessed that the differences will be more extreme when seeing North Koreans, since the Chosen people in Japan are at least exposed to capitalist society, and thus will have more commonalities with South Koreans.) Would it be correct to group the two Koreas into one, just because we have the same ancestors?

           Living in a time where globalization is taking place at a very fast pace, many minority groups are losing their cultures and traditions. However, I must note that it was very interesting to see how this group of people were striving to keep their identities. “The minority of Korea in Japan (roughly 5,000 today) who do not have South Korean nationality are stateless” (Ryang, 12) – I cannot simply imagine the discrimination they must be going through, all the discrimination and stereotypes against them! They are neither Japanese, nor Korean (both South and North) but Chosunjins living in Japan. I believe that the home-like atmosphere presented by the Chosun School is a great help to the students who feel confused with their identities. In that sense, I think the school plays an important role in establishing ego for Chosun people in Japan.