Chosen Soren Drifts from North Korea and Into Obscurity

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As the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chosen Soren in Japanese) marks its 70th anniversary, the once-powerful pro-North Korean organization is facing a steep and possibly irreversible decline. From dwindling school subsidies and shrinking membership to growing disillusionment within its ranks and signs of neglect from Pyongyang, Chosen Soren's relevance in both Japan and North Korea is being openly questioned.

Founded in 1955, Chosen Soren once served as a critical bridge between North Korea and its diaspora in Japan. The organization oversaw a vast network of Korean schools, credit unions, hospitals, and cultural associations. All were rooted in loyalty to the Kim regime and its guiding Juche (self-reliance) ideology. Article 1 of Chosen Soren's charter declares its mission as uniting all Koreans in Japan around the government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

In its heyday during the 1970s and '80s, Chosen Soren reportedly had up to 500,000 members and channeled tens of billions of Japanese yen (millions of USD) to North Korea. It also operated elite "Learning Groups" (gakushu-gumi), whose members were reportedly involved in supporting South Korean anti-government movements. They were also possibly engaged in espionage operations in Japan. During Japan's economic bubble, the group served as a financial lifeline for Pyongyang.

Defections and Financial Collapse

But that power has steadily eroded. Its decline has been particularly noticeable since 2002, when then-North Korean leader Kim Jong Il admitted to the abduction of Japanese citizens. Chosen Soren had long denied this claim as fabrication. The confession shocked members, triggered internal backlash, and led to mass defections. Many left the organization entirely, joined the pro-South Korea Mindan, or naturalized as Japanese citizens.

The Japanese government responded with a series of sanctions following North Korea's 2006 missile launches and nuclear tests. These included bans on North Korean ships, import restrictions, and limits on remittances. Many of those had been funneled through Chogin credit unions tied to Chosen Soren. Between 1997 and 2002, those credit unions collapsed under the weight of defaulted loans tied to North Korean remittances. Annual transfers, once measured in the billions of yen, have since fallen to just a few million (few thousand USD).

Declining Support for Korean Schools

Recent years have seen the organization's decline deepen. The Japanese Ministry of Education reported that some 93 municipalities still provided Korean schools with subsidies as of fiscal 2022. However, the total amount had dropped to ¥230.64 million ($1.47 million), a reflection of both declining enrollment and increasing political scrutiny. 

Korean schools operated by Chosen Soren are officially categorized as "miscellaneous schools" rather than regular educational institutions under Japanese law. Therefore, they are excluded from the national tuition waiver program.

Local governments remain divided. In 2010, then-Governor Shintaro Ishihara froze subsidies in Tokyo, citing anti-Japanese education and suspected ties to the abductions. Osaka followed suit the same year after then-Governor Toru Hashimoto demanded that the Osaka Korean School Foundation prove it had severed ties with Chosen Soren. Receiving no response, the city halted its ¥87 million ($554,140) subsidy and has not resumed funding. 

In contrast, Hyogo Prefecture continues to provide over ¥40 million ($254,780) annually. Governor Motohiko Saito defended the policy on the grounds that "children's education should be treated separately."

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Drifting Away from Pyongyang

Chosen Soren's symbolic decline was made even more apparent in January 2025 when North Korean leader Kim Jong Un failed to send his customary New Year's message to Chosen Soren chairman Ho Jong-man. The annual letter traditionally served as a directive from Pyongyang and a reaffirmation of Chosen Soren's place within the North Korean sphere. Its absence has caused confusion and unrest within the organization, especially as it marks its 70th anniversary.

Further signs of estrangement have appeared. Chosen Soren officials were reportedly disinvited from the Pyongyang International Marathon in April. As well, planned visits to North Korea were canceled. Kim did send a brief letter on May 25, encouraging overseas Koreans in Japan to visit the homeland. Insiders, however, say it lacked the political weight of the usual New Year's message and appeared aimed more at pacifying discontent than affirming ties.

A Crisis of Identity and Purpose

The rift appears to center on North Korea's abandonment of its reunification policy. In a 2024 speech to the Supreme People's Assembly, Kim declared South Korea "our principal and absolute enemy," effectively ending decades of rhetoric around peaceful unification. Chosen Soren, whose founding purpose included promoting "the independent and peaceful reunification of the homeland," found itself ideologically adrift.

In response, Chosen Soren issued internal guidelines banning the use of phrases like "independent reunification" and "one people" in schools and materials. That served to further deepen member disillusionment. Educators reported no official instructions on textbook revisions from Pyongyang, leaving many confused about how to proceed.

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Time to Change

Despite these tensions, a Chosen Soren delegation led by Jeong Seong-han, head of the Hokkaido chapter, is currently visiting Pyongyang. North Korean media reported that the group paid homage at statues of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il and visited the alleged birthplace of Kim Il Sung. 

In Japan, the organization has launched a 70-day campaign of commemorative events, including rallies, performances, and lectures. The celebration culminated in an art performance in Tokyo's Kita Ward on May 27.

Still, these gestures do little to dispel the growing sense that Chosen Soren is being quietly sidelined by the very regime it has long served. Tsutomu Nishioka, chairman of the National Association for the Rescue of Japanese Kidnapped by North Korea and a professor at Reitaku University, stated it well. "If Chosen Soren continues to praise the oppressive Kim regime, there is no path forward," he said. "Its only chance of survival is to adapt to Japanese society and begin speaking critically, and truthfully, on behalf of North Korean people."

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(Read the article in Japanese here and here.)

Author: The Sankei Shimbun

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