인구소멸위기와 일본의 다문화정책 －‘다문화공생’과 재일조선인 문제의 간극－

Abstract

This thesis examines the ambivalent aspects of Japanese society facing the crisis of demographic extinction, namely the multicultural coexistence policy at the government level and the people's exclusion of foreigners. In the modern era, while opening ports and pioneering colonies, Japan adhered to the principle of lineage based on the view of a homogeneous nation under the emperor system. And according to this principle, a policy of discrimination and exclusion was applied to foreigners. However, the current reality is that Japan cannot avoid multiculturalization and multiethnicization. Japan's population has been declining since its peak in 2004. Accordingly, in March 2006, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications of Japan announced a policy of “multicultural coexistence” and began to recognize foreigners as members of Japanese society. The Japanese government moved away from the perception that “foreigners = temporary existence” and set out to prepare conditions for “multicultural coexistence” with the view that foreigners are also local residents. Meanwhile, while the Japanese government is implementing a policy of “multicultural coexistence,” an unprecedented phenomenon of exclusion from foreigners is also appearing in Japanese society. The activities of the ‘Zaitokukai’, which represents the ‘Anti-Korean Wave’, can be cited. This phenomenon arises from the gap between the perception of 'multicultural symbiosis' and the historical perception of colonial rule. During the period of occupation, Japan became an ally of the United States due to the Korean War, and as a result, the will to reflect on colonial rule became weak. And Japan, which achieved advanced economic development under the Cold War system, wanted to differentiate itself from its Asian neighbors. For this reason, in reality, chauvinism towards Koreans in Japan is prevalent, and the ‘Anti-Korean Wave’ shows the phenomenon as it is. Therefore, in order to share 'multicultural coexistence' in Japanese society, it is necessary to establish a correct historical awareness of the colonial period, and this is probably the biggest challenge that Japanese society needs to overcome today.