자이니치’ 담론과 아이덴티티

Stepping into the new millenium an important and surprising change has happened in the community of Korean residents in Japan. As we have examined above, the issues of 'Zainichi' can be described as a present progressive form in the making until today interacting with the political and social movement in Japan as well as with the identity of 'Zainichi'. However, the most important thing of all is that the term, 'Zainichi' emerged from the community itself and is widely used in the community. The Korean residents in Japan questioned the prejudices and discriminations in Japan by highlighting 'Zainichi' without 'North Korean' or 'South Korean' and are endeavoring to re-establish their identity through the struggles and endeavors. In this respect 'Zainichi' can not be undermined as a movement of a minority group or diaspora in Japan, but is to be considered as a term closely related to the claim of the Korean people in Japan to find their identity.