PRESS RELEASE(For Immediate Release)

Korean Mission in Japan

February 4, 1960

Republic of Korea Ambassador Tai Ha Yiu today issued the following statement:
The attention of the Free World should be drawn to the fact, among other things, that those Koreans who were sent to the communist slavery in the northern part of Korea and the would-be 'repatriates' were and are under the command and a strict control of the 'Soren', a Korean communist organization. This organization keeps close contacts with and vigilance over the would-be 'repatriates' while the Korean public in Japan and others who believe in freedom and democracy are denied any chance of approaching and making friendly persuation to the would-be 'repatriates' by the Japanese side which keeps secret to the public the name lists of them.
The JRC keeps secret the names and addresses of those Koreans who were already shipped out to the northern part of Korea, and even the numbers of the 'applicants' which used to be made known to the public, up to fifth shipment of 'repatriates'. What they called the 'registration' for the sixth group of 'repatriates' were stealthily conducted and, though it is reported that preparations are being made for the transportations of seventh and eighth groups of 'repatriates' the dates of 'registrations' and the number of the 'registrants' are kept confidential. This well manifests the true nature of the political scheme of 'repatriation'.
That the shipment of Korean residents in Japan to the communist slavery in the northern part of Korea is being carried out under a most malicious political machination has fully been exposed to the world by numerous evidences on political pressures imposed upon the Korean residents in the course of the operation of the so-called 'repatriation'. It should be noted that the political activities are getting impetus ever more and a secret way of operation of the 'repatriation' works is being manipulated with an obvious attempt to ship out to the northern part of Korea as many Koreans as possible.
The ICRC's special mission here admitted the involvement of the political activities in the 'repatriation' operation and warned the JRC against them. However, since those activities are sequential to the deportation scheme which was motivated solely from political consideration, such would never be prevented by simply checking some of superficial phenomena. Therefore, I wish to point out that any decision by the ICRC, short of withdrawal of its role from the 'repatriation' scheme, cannot correct the evils inherent to such a sort of schemes.
The ‘Soren's’ political pressures on the individual Koreans concerned are getting more insidious and brutal -- often applying physical tortures to those who do not give in to its demand, thus leading them even to the cases of suicide --, while the JRC, keeping its steps with the 'Soren' makes efforts to blindfold the public the political involvement in the operation of the 'repatriation' works and tries to push through to the last its long cherished plan of expelling the whole Korean residents in Japan.
It is ridiculous to contend that the 'repatriation' scheme lies in the noble principle of 'freedom of choice of residence' when the 'repatriation' is conducted under political maneuvers, pressures and the time-table of the Korean communist elements and the Japanese.
Stressing that, to save the basic human rights of Korean residents in Japan, the inhumane scheme of the so-called 'repatriation' under political machination should urgently be brought to an end, I wish to invite a keen attention of the peoples of the Free World in this connection."
ENDIT.