Why is anti-Korean racism in Japan on the rise again?

An upswing in hate crimes has seen homes burned and death threats made towards ethnic Korean communities – whether allied to North or South – in Japan

The countries share a history complicated by colonialism, war, missile tests and ‘comfort women’. With elections looming, things may be about to get worse

Reading Time:4 minutes

A statue of a ‘comfort woman’ at the Korea Botanic Garden in Pyeongchang, South Korea. Japan’s use of the wartime sex slaves is one of many issues complicating the countries’ ties. Photo: Kyodo

Published: 8:00am, 23 Jan 2022Updated: 10:27am, 23 Jan 2022

Nearly 20 years ago, after Pyongyang admitted that its agents had abducted Japanese nationals, someone smeared on the walls of Chung Hyon-suk’s Tokyo home: “North Koreans live here. Be careful.”

The sense of danger she felt that day has returned.

“Japan’s relationship with the two Koreas has always been complicated due to Tokyo’s colonial rule of the peninsula, but things changed for North Korean residents of Japan after they confirmed the abductions,” she said.

“Politicians and the Japanese media kept up a constant attack on everything about Korea and for the next decade it was difficult to live here,” said Chung, who was born in Japan and has lived in the country all her life. Her grandparents were originally from North Korea and she is a member of Chongryun, the association of North Korean residents of Japan.

“Our house was damaged and I was very worried about my two sons, who were at primary school at the time, so I went to the police,” she said.

The Korean community reported numerous incidents, such as girls attending Korean high schools having their distinctive Korean-style uniforms slashed by assailants and receiving countless online threats.

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