The North Korean Bubble: A Nation Within a Nation

🇰🇵A community of Koreans living in Japan, who were brought over in the 1940s, have created a bubble within Japan where they teach their children about Korean culture and history.

🌏These Koreans face discrimination and hostility from the Japanese population, leading them to seek support and protection from North Korea.

🗺️The North Korean government provides financial support to this community, funding their schools and helping them maintain their cultural identity.

🏫Despite the challenges they face, these Koreans remain loyal to their homeland and actively resist assimilation into Japanese society.

⚖️The complex identity of these stateless Koreans raises questions about human rights, nationalism, and the impact of geopolitics on individual lives.

Who are these Koreans living in Japan?

—These Koreans are descendants of those who were brought over to Japan during the 1940s by the Japanese military. They are stateless and face discrimination as they are not recognized as Japanese citizens.

Why do these Koreans teach their children about Korean culture and history?

—Teaching their children about Korean culture and history helps these Koreans maintain their identity and preserve their heritage despite living in a foreign country.

Why do they seek support from North Korea?

—Despite the human rights abuses in North Korea, these Koreans see it as a refuge and protector of their identity. They believe North Korea understands and supports their struggle against discrimination.

How does the Japanese government treat these stateless Koreans?

—The Japanese government has been accused of structural discrimination against Koreans, leading to limited funding and support for Korean schools and cultural institutions.

What impact does geopolitics have on the lives of these Koreans?

—Geopolitical tensions between Japan and North Korea, such as North Korea's missile tests and the kidnapping of Japanese citizens, increase discrimination and hostility towards Koreans in Japan.

00:00In Tokyo, a community of Koreans living in Japan has created a bubble where they teach their children about Korean culture and history.

04:20This community, known as North Korea's bubble in Japan, consists of Koreans who were forcibly brought over to Japan during the 1940s.

07:12The community, supported by funding from North Korea, has built schools and institutions to preserve their identity and heritage.

09:36Despite facing discrimination and hostility from the Japanese population, these Koreans remain loyal to their homeland and actively resist assimilation into Japanese society.

11:36The complex identity of these stateless Koreans raises questions about human rights, nationalism, and the impact of geopolitics on individual lives.