On September 16th, my husband and I were invited to speak at the 7th Special Forum to support Korean students in Japan. The purpose of the forum was to bring medical professionals and teachers from within the Korean community in Japan together in order to support students with special needs within their schools.

Koreans have been living in Japan for several generations. During the Japanese occupation of Korea, Koreans were taken to Japan as forced laborers. When Korea finally won its independence in 1945, approximately 2 million Koreans resided in Japan. Today that number has shrunk to less than 1 million. Koreans in Japan suffered from war-related injuries and deaths as well as discrimination. As a result, shortly after Korea’s liberation, tens of thousands of Koreans returned to Korea in the 1950’s and 60’s.

Most Koreans remaining in Japan did not obtain Japanese citizenship. Despite having permanent resident status, they were asked to choose citizenship between North or South Korea. Initially, more Koreans chose North Korean citizenship because the North Korean government provided support for Korean schools and community infrastructure in Japan. Koreans in Japan were also given the privilege to travel to North Korea and further their studies and profession in the country.

Today the population of North Korean citizens in Japan is declining. Recent political changes have increased the number of Koreans obtaining Japanese citizenship. With persistent discrimination and a lack of support for the Korean community, particularly educational support for schools, Koreans are choosing to assimilate into mainstream society. Currently, there remain approximately 30,000 North Korean citizens in Japan out of a total of 400,000 Koreans who have resided in Japan for several generations.

Despite the population decline, Koreans in Japan continue operating Korean schools in order to preserve their language, culture, and ethnic identity. There are currently approximately 60 Korean schools in Japan. It is through these schools that Koreans have maintained their cultural heritage over three, four, and even five generations in Japan. Many of the teachers and students at these schools visit North Korea on a regular basis. Some of the Koreans at these schools also possess North Korean citizenship.

It was to this community that Ignis Community was invited to speak about our work in Pyongyang with children who have developmental disabilities. The forum was attended by teachers from approximately 35 different schools in Japan as well as Korean doctors, including psychiatrists and pediatricians who directly support children with special needs. Approximately 50 individuals attended in-person while around 80 others participated virtually via Zoom.

We shared about our experiences working with children who have cerebral palsy, autism, and other developmental disabilities at the Pyongyang Rehabilitation Center (PYSRC). Through the PYSRC, treatment for children with developmental disabilities was birthed in North Korea. As children were treated, one of the greatest needs was also for these children to receive an education. Consequently, special education began in parallel with medical treatment at the PYSRC, which is located on the Pyongyang Medical School Hospital’s campus.

Teachers and doctors present at the forum were personally touched by what we shared. Following our speech was a discussion about some of the current challenges Korean schools face in Japan. We were privileged to sit in on their discussions about the best way to help children with special needs in their own school system. They even gave us the opportunity to speak into their situation and offer words of encouragement.

Both of us instantly connected with this Korean community. Through our common experiences in North Korea and our consolidated hearts for the Korean people, we forged a bond of friendship with the Korean teachers and doctors in Japan. Alone we are limited in how much we can help children with special needs. But by working together, we trust that we can touch the lives of children not only in Japan but also throughout the Korean Peninsula. As Helen Keller stated so eloquently, “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.”