October 1, 1959

GIST OF TALKS NINETEENTH SESSION COMMITTEE ON LEGAL STATUS OF KOREAN RESIDENTS IN JAPAN
1. Time and Place: 10:30 - 12:10 a.m., September 26, 1959, at Room 411, Foreign Ministry, Japanese Government
2. Conferees:
Korean side: Mr. LEE HO
Mr. CHIN Pil Shik
Mr. HAN Kibong
Mr. OHM Young Dal
Mr. ROH Jae Won
Mr. KWON Tae Woong
Mr. LEE Chang Soo
Japanese side: Mr. KATSUNO Yasusuke
Mr. HIRAGA Kenta
Mr. MIYAKE Kijiro
Mr. HASEGAWA SHINZO
Mr. MORI Junzo
Mr. HIRATSUKA Nenoichi
Mr. NAKAJIMA Toshijiro
Mr. NAKAGAWA Toyokichi
Mr. NAGAHASHI
Mr. IKEBE Ken
3. Gist of Talks:
Mr. Katsuno
(Introduced a new Japanese member, Mr. Nagahashi, of Foreign Exchange Bureau, Finance Ministry.)
Mr. Lee
As you know, Dr. Yu has not returned from Seoul yet, and Minister Choi, who was supposed to act on behalf of Dr. Yu in his absence. also went home owing to the change of his official status. Being not a formal member, I attend this Committee in a vicarious capacity today.
At today's meeting, I would like to hear Japanese views on the principles which Dr. Yu set forth at the previous meeting in relation to over-all matters concerning legal status of the Korean residents in Japan.
Mr. Katsuno
It is true that at the previous meeting Dr. Yu expressed his views on over-all matters. However, the compensation problem he then referred to was a real surprise to our side. The Japanese side holds that no discussions shall be made on the compensation problem at this Committee.
Furthermore, I was rather confused to learn that some press reports on the compensation issue were carried in Korean newspapers, despite the agreement reached at the previous meeting that no press release would be made thereabout in view of the delicacy of the matter at the present stage. Your attention is invited to this matter.
Mr. Lee
As regards the mass repatriation to the Republic of Korea and compensation problems, it was agreed not to release them to the press for the time being, at the previous meeting. As gar as I know, no news about such problems was intentionally released by our side, though some press articles on them were found in Korean newspapers. I do not know how and from what source they were released. Such news reports might come of the speculation of reporters. Anyhow, it was a regrettable case for our side, too.
Regarding the compensation problem which your side objected to discuss at this Committee, I hold that the problem has to be discussed at this Committee, though a definite view is with-held on account of my vicarious capacity.
Mr. Katsuno
I suggest to stop arguing over the case of the press reports. Mutual attention is desired in this respect.
At today's meeting I would like to hear your opinions further on any other problems except the compensation problem.
Mr. Lee
Since Dr. Yu stated our views on over-all matters at the previous meeting, I want first to hear Japanese views on the matters in general including the compensation problems at today's meeting.
Mr. Katsuno
The Japanese side, as I told, holds that the compensation problem shall not be discussed at this Committee.
I would like to hear your opinions on any other problems, besides the general views which Dr. Yu stated.
Mr. Lee
I hardly understand what you meant by any other problems". Since our side set forth views in principle on over-all matters, it is reasonable, only after Japanese views are heard, to start discussing them in detail. Therefore, I want first to hear Japanese views on the substantial points on which our views were stated by our side at the previous meeting.
As regards the compensation problem on which your side are positively denying to discuss at this Committee, I think it is a quite proper proceeding to exchange views on it since the problem was put forward for discussion by our side.
Mr. Katsuno
At the outset of the previous meeting, the status of Korean residents who want to remain in Japan was discussed. And, in this connection, the Japanese side raised a few questions, that is, what were exactly meant by "the Korean residents in Japan", and by "their descendants". I think the solution of these questions is a basis on which solution of other problems may depend. Therefore, as exchange of views, I hope that some explanation be given by your side on the questions which were raised by us in relation to them.
In addition, I would like to know that either your side has any intention to discuss the Korean proposal as a whole, or to discuss it article by article. I further wonder if your side has any particular subject in mind to start with.
Mr. Lee
I know that your side, at the previous meeting, raised a few questions regarding the Korean proposal of last October. However, such questions can be regarded as problems of mere technical character compared with the substantial matters on which Dr. Yu stated our views. So I want to hear Japanese views on any of the points Dr. Yu stated.
Mr. Katsuno
At the beginning, the status of Korean residents who want to remain in Japan was discussed. However, Dr. Yu proposed the repatriation problem of Korean residents for discussions. I think they will be such Koreans who had been resident in Japan who return to Korea. So it is first necessary to define the scope of the Korean residents. The Japanese side, after presenting its views in general regarding the definition and scope of Korean residents, brought up a few questions about them. Therefore, I would like first to hear your clarification on such questions.
Mr. Lee
I do not know how this Committee meeting will be proceeded in future when Dr. Yu returns from Seoul. But, the few Japanese questions with respect to the scope of the Korean residents, as I said, are of mere technical character compared with the principle matters on which the Korean side presented its view.
I think if the Japanese side express its views on the principles we stated, works of this Committee will be much expedited.
Mr. Hiraga
I remember that Dr. Yu stated in principle, that Korean residents should be accorded equal treatment with Japanese nationals with respect to education, economic activities and social security. He further referred, in connection with the repatriation, to such problems as to property to be taken home, remittance of funds, etc.
For our Japanese side, it is the possible way of answer, if asked, to say roughly yes or no on each of such principles. Such answer seems to serve no purpose. Therefore, it is desireable to discuss points one by one. I think that to frame a clear definition of the Korean residents in Japan is the first step towards solution of the other problems regarding their treatments.
Mr. Lee
It is true that Dr. Yu expressed such principles which Mr. Hiraga now referred to. I remember that, Dr. Yu stated, besides them, some other principles on such problems as the confirmation of nationality, special permanent residence, property rights and occupation rights.
For our side, I would like to hear your stand on these principles even in the way as Mr. Hiraga now suggested.
As regards the scope of Korean residents in Japan, the rough definition was already given, either in the Korean proposal or in Dr. Yu's remarks, to the effect that those Koreans who had been residing in Japan since the end of the hostilities of World War II and their descendants. Therefore, some Japanese questions regarding the descendants are of minor and technical character in comparison with the principles we stated.
I remember that the Japanese side, at the previous meeting, promised to express its views on the principles we then stated at next meeting. Your contention today, therefore, makes me rather confused.
(Some heated discussions on the way of proceeding the Committee discussions were repeated in similar way between the two sides.)
Mr. Katsuno
It is, of course, an important problem to discuss on how the Korean residents be treated. However, in my opinion, Korean residents in Japan fall under the scone of aliens in general and they should not be treated differently from other aliens, though you side may raise objection to such treatment.
I think that the scope of Korean residents and the problems of their nationality and descendants are to be first clearly defined before entering into discussions on the problems of their property rights, education, etc.
Mr. Lee
I do not deny the importance of defining clearly the scope of Korean residents in Japan. Nevertheless, as I repeated, the few Japanese questions with respect to the definition of the Korean residents given in the Korean proposal are of quite technical character.
Though Mr. Katsuno now contended that the Korean residents belong to ordinary aliens, I am, on the contrary, of the opinion that they are special aliens who should be accorded special treatments by the Japanese government. That is why they have been the subject of our discussions at this special committee.
Mr. Hiraga
In relation to the definition of the Korean residents given by your side, I once proposed that "the date of termination of hostilities of the Pacific War" be determined concretely to avoid divergent interpretation. And I further raised some questions as the "lineal descendants" which your side suggested as the scope of the descendants. So I expected today your side would give some clarifications on my questions.
Regarding the principle matters which you mentioned of, I think many problems are included therein. Therefore, it would be difficult to answer them at one time. Firstly I would like to discuss the nationality problem, if any more time is available, or at next meeting.
Mr. Lee
As I repeated, the Korean side wants to hear first Japanese views on the principle matters in general on which ours were set forth at the previous meeting. Shall we fix the date for next meeting if no more time is available for today?
Mr. Hiraga
At next meeting, I would like to hear Korean views on the problem of the nationality confirmation. Thereafter, Japanese views thereon will be stated.
Mr. Lee
At next meeting, we will expect that the Japanese side presents its views in general on the over-all points in reply to Dr. Yu's remarks made at the previous meeting, though I don't mind on what point your side should start with.
(Remarks)
Before adjourning the nineteenth session of the Committee;
1) It was agreed that next meeting would be held on 10:30 a.m., 30th, inst.
2) The Japanese side desired to know that on what grounds and when - from quasi-legal, aside from political, point of view the Korean residents in Japan became nationals of the ROK at next meeting.
3) The following press release was agreed: The Committee continued discussing substantial matters regarding the legal status of the Korean residents in Japan.

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