Tokyo, May 28, 1958

THE GIST OF TALKS 2ND SESSION THE MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE ON LEGAL STATUS OF KOREAN RESIDENTS IN JAPAN
1. Time and Place, From 3:30 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. on Monday, May 26, 1958 in Room 411 of the Japanese Foreign Ministry
2. Conferees:
Korean side : Mr. Tai Ha Yiu (Chief Member)
Mr. Ho Lee
Mr. Kyu Hah Choi
Mr. Chai Hang Ea
Mr. Pil Shik Chin
Mr. Young Park
Mr. Ki Bong Han
Mr. To Kyong Limb
Mr. Won Ho Lee
Mr. Young Dal Ohm
Mr. Jai Won Roh
Japanese side : Mr. Yasusuke Katsuno
Mr. Kenta Hiraga
Mr. Shinzo Hasegawa
Mr. Minoru Imai
Mr. Kyoichi Miyagi
Mr. Toshimichi Kajiki
Mr. Kiyoshi Suganuma
Mr. Minao Taucbiya
Mr. Tashijiro Nakajima
Mr. Ken Ikebe
MR. KATSUNO:
What language shall we speak?
MR. YIU:
Each side will use its mother tongue.
MR. KATSUNO:
All right. Then, may I greet you by saying some words? I am not so well versed in this matter as Director Iseki, and so far as I am concerned, it is the first experience. Further the Minister for Justice has failed in the general election, and a new Minister for Justice may be appointed. Therefore, pending the decision on this appointment, Where may arise some matters on which we may not be able to obtain instant decision of the Japanese Government.
For my own part, I earnestly wish to bring the problem to a settlement, and I believe the Korean side is also of the same opinion. There have already been numerous discussions on this problem, I hear. In regard to discussion on this matter, the Japanese side would like to set forth the following three principles:
Firstly, since we are both independent countries, both sides will not interfere with the other country's internal affairs in accordance with well-established international practice.
Secondly, each country should respect the other country's jurisdiction.
Thirdly, we will take into consideration the historical background of the Koreans in Japan. In other words, we have to consider the fact that Korean residents in Japan are conducting important roles in Japan.
We have to discuss the matter closely taking these things into our consideration, I think.
MR. YIU:
Though it is true that the Korean residents in Japan are aliens to Japan I hope that we will settle the problem smoothly and satisfactorily, taking into our deep consideration the special background of the Korean residents in Japan.
Do you have in your mind anything to propose?
MR. KATSUNO:
I understand that this problem has been discussed considerably in the past. With reference to the draft agreement on this problem prepared in the previous conference in 1952 there has not been a concrete agreement, and on some difficult questions the opinions were very ambiguous. Therefore at this time, I think we had better to tackle the problem item by item putting each item on our agenda, thus giving a concrete solution to the each item. how do you think about this?
The definition of the Korean residents would be the Koreans who have been living in Japan since prior to the end of the World war II. Koreans in Japan are mostly coming under this category, I understand. So, we will discuss first the problems concerning these Koreans and next other minor matters relevant to this problem. What do you think about it?
MR. YIU:
I understood you very well, But yet, wouldn't it be better that we start to work on our business after we decide concrete agenda? I would like to propose as follows:
We think it the most effective way of proceeding to discuss and settle the problems, item by item, which were adopted to be taken up at this Committee in accordance with the terms agreed upon at the conclusion of Korea-Japan Preliminary Talks on December 31, 1957. We hope the Japanese side will agree to our opinion.
The items are: 1. Status and treatment of the Korean residents
a) Status of the Korean residents in Japan
b) Property rights acquired by Korean residents
c) Property to be taken by the repatriating Koreans
2. Agreements Arrangements for the acceptance deportees. And the problem on the deportation of illegal entrants will be also included."
MR. KATSUNO:
Thank you for your concrete proposal. As regards your proposal, please let our side study and make an answer at the next meeting.
MR. YIU:
The proposal is made in accordance with the agreement reached on December 31 last year, and the contents of the proposal is nothing new since it is based on the agreed minutes and other documents signed on December 31 last year.
MR. KATAUNO:
I don't think we have the minute at hand. (To a member of his side) De we have? was it last year?
MR. YIU:
Do you have any objection with regard to the earlier decision to discuss these matters?
MR. KATSUNO:
No, but how would it be to discuss the matter at next meeting?
MR. YIU:
Though my proposal was only to confirm the agenda items as agreed at the conclusion of the Preliminary "talks on December 31, 1957, as it seems that it is not long since you assumed the study on the matter, I would have no objection to discussing this matter at next meeting.
MR. KATSUNO:
As regards the next meeting, when shall we hold next meeting?
MR. YIU:
How about Monday, June 2 ?
MR. KATSUNO:
All right.
MR. YIU:
How about the time?
MR. KATSUNO:
At your side's convenience.
MR. YlU:
Now about 10:30 a.m. ?
MR. KATSUNO:
All right.
MR. KATSUNO:
What shall we do about the press release?
MR. YIU:
If you like to make a detailed report, you may as well...
MR. KATSUNO:
Shall we make an abstract one?
MR. YIU:
We don't have any particular objection to it.
MR. KATSUNO:
How about reporting to the effect that we discussed on how to proceed the meeting?
MR, YIU:
No objection.
MR. KATSUNO:
Only about how to proceed the meeting. Is that right?
MR. YIU:
We will do the same way.
MR. KATSUNO:
Shall we add that we decided to open the next meeting on June 2?
MR. YIU:
All right,

-THE END-