This is Randi Hacker with another Postcard from Abroad from the Center for East Asian Studies.

Here’s another Postcard about North Korea. This one is about North Korea in Japan. That’s “in” and not “and.” Zainichi is the name given to Korean nationals who live in Japan. 25% or them attend schools run by Chongryon or Chosen Soren in Japanese. Chongryon schools have portraits of the Eternal President Kim Il Sung and the Great Leader Kim Jong Il on the walls. Chongryon schools teach history from the North Korean perspective. Chongryon schools promote North Korean political ideology. Many of the students feel very nationalistic about North Korea, have traveled there and were favorably impressed in part because they were not detained. Though some students have begun to question the North Korean outlook, many still consider North Korea their homeland. They also consider themselves fortunate to live in Japan. In other words: North Korea is a nice place to visit but they wouldn’t want to live there.

From the Center for East Asian Studies, this is Randi Hacker. Wish you were here.