Outcomes of the 16th Meeting of Korea-Japan Director-Generals for Asian Affairs on the Legal Status of Korean Residents in Japan

2008-01-10 16:09
Seoul--(뉴스와이어)--The 16th Meeting of Korea-Japan Director-Generals for Asian Affairs on the Legal Status of Korean Residents in Japan was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade on January 10. The Korean delegation was headed by Mr. Kim Jae-shin, Director-General of Northeast Asian Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MOFAT) and consisted of relevant officials of MOFAT, the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development. The Japanese delegation was headed by Mr. Sasae Kenichiro, Director-General for Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and consisted of relevant officials of MOFA and the Japanese government.

The two sides discussed a wide range of issues regarding ways to improve the status and treatment of Korean residents in Japan including their legal status, disabled or elderly Korean residents without pensions, local political rights, social treatment and Korean residents in Utoro.

The major outcomes of this meeting are as follow:

o Legal status of Korean residents in Japan

The Japanese side expressed its position that it will look into the possibility of reducing immigration procedures and other regulations in terms of deregulation efforts. The ROK side stressed that Korean residents in Japan should receive special treatment given the extraordinary circumstances of the history, and asked the Japanese side to ultimately abolish regulations on carrying alien registrations at all times, reentry permits for Korean residents in Japan and eviction measures.

o Local political rights for Korean residents in Japan

The ROK side explained that Korean residents in Japan are deeply interested in obtaining local political rights, and asked for active cooperation of the Japanese government thereof. The Japanese side explained that the issue of granting local political rights to permanent foreign residents is a matter that is related to the foundation of Japan's national order, and it will look into this matter while observing relevant discussions at the Japanese Diet.

o Korean residents living in Utoro

The ROK side stressed that the issue of Korean residents in Utoro is directly related to their right to live, and asked the Japanese government to make efforts to guarantee a stable living environment for Korean residents in Utoro by cooperating with local governments. The Japanese side explained that a consultative body at the government-level was established on readjusting the living environment of the Utoro region and that the Japanese government expects this issue to be resolved soon.

The two sides agreed in principle to hold the next meeting in Tokyo during the second half of year 2008, further details of which would be discussed through diplomatic channels.