Leaving the Past and Reaching for a New Future: The Changing Minds of Current Generation Zainichi Koreans

Abstract

The world contains various groups of individuals where they struggle to fit in to society due to their 'different' ethnicity. This paper discusses the unique case of Zainichi Koreans, Koreans residing in Japan, who struggle from racial discrimination despite the fact that these members appear the same on the outside, no different than the Japanese individuals. Given the history, the quality of life differs from first generation to current generation Zainichi Koreans, and their perspectives on their identities have changed over time as well. Through analyzing the novel GO, a story about a third generation Zainichi Korean teenager and his struggles as a Korean Japanese, the paper explores the changing minds of current Zainichi Koreans on how they view their future and identity. They no longer want to live in the past and strive for a better life with no discrimination, a change that should begin from their way of thinking. The paper concludes by addressing the issue of diversity and how it is spreading and making its way through homogeneous societies in East Asia, which suggests that diversity is no longer a means to discriminate against but rather an issue to embrace and celebrate.