General Association of Korean Residents in Japan - Zainippon Chosenjin Sorengoukai

A Korean organization in Japan that supports North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) as the "authentic government of the Korean people." Its abbreviation is Chosen Chongryon or Chongryon, but in Japanese mass media it is generally written as Chosen Chongryon. Under Japanese civil law, it is an "association without legal capacity" that does not have legal personality. Its central headquarters is located in Fujimi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo.

It was founded in May 1955 at the founding convention held at Asakusa Public Hall in Tokyo, after the Korean Residents Union in Japan (Chosenren) was founded on October 15, 1945, and its successor, the Korean Unified Democratic Front in Japan (Minsen). It is also responsible for issuing passports to Korean residents in Japan by the North Korean government, and functions as a de facto embassy even though there are no diplomatic relations between Japan and North Korea. It defines itself as "an association made up of Koreans and organizations from various fields living in Japan," and is involved in the operation of Korea University (Kodaira City, Tokyo) and other ethnic schools at various levels. Its operating principles are "the principle of subjectivity, the principle of maintaining ethnic identity, the principle of serving fellow Koreans, the principle of democratic centralism, and the principle of non-interference in internal affairs." The chairman of the Central Standing Committee, which is the head of the organization, was the first Han Deok-soo (1907-2001), the second Seo Man-sul (1927-2012), and the third Heo Jong-man (1935- ), and they are also elected as delegates to the Supreme People's Assembly, North Korea's legislative body. The highest decision-making body is the general conference, which is held once every four years and is convened by the Central Committee.

At its peak, the organization was said to have numbered several hundred thousand people, but according to the Public Security Intelligence Agency, this has shrunk to "roughly 70,000" (as of February 2016). In addition to having local headquarters in every prefecture, it has many affiliated entities, including central organizations such as the Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Japan, the Korean Youth League in Japan, the Korean Democratic Women's League in Japan, and the Korean Youth Chamber of Commerce in Japan, as well as the Korea News Agency, Gakuyu Publishing, and the Kumgangsan Opera Company. Its official newspaper is the Chosun Sinbo, published by the Chosun Sinbo News Agency. It has been designated by the Public Security Intelligence Agency as an organization subject to investigation under the Anti-Subversive Activities Act.

[Atsuhito Isozaki February 17, 2020]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

北朝鮮（朝鮮民主主義人民共和国）を「朝鮮人民の真正な政権として支持している」在日朝鮮人団体。略称は朝鮮総聯(そうれん)ないし総聯だが、日本のマスメディアでは朝鮮総連との表記が一般的である。日本の民法上では法人格がない「権利能力なき社団」にあたる。中央本部は東京都千代田区富士見に所在。

　1945年（昭和20）10月15日創立の在日本朝鮮人連盟（朝連）、その後継団体である在日朝鮮統一民主戦線（民戦）を経て、1955年5月に東京浅草公会堂で開催された結成大会により創立。北朝鮮政府の委任によって在日朝鮮人に対する旅券発給業務も行っており、日本と北朝鮮の国交がないなかで事実上の大使館機能をもつ。自らを「日本に居住する各界の同胞と団体によって構成される連合体」と定義づけており、朝鮮大学校（東京都小平市）ほか各級民族学校の運営にも携わる。活動原則として、「主体性の原則、民族性固守の原則、同胞のため服務する原則、民主主義中央集権制の原則、内政不干渉の原則」を掲げる。団体トップである中央常任委員会議長は、初代・韓徳銖(ハンドクス)（1907―2001）、二代・徐萬述(ソマンスル)（1927―2012）、三代・許宗萬(ホジョンマン)（1935―　）であり、北朝鮮の立法機関である最高人民会議の代議員にも選出されている。最高決議機関は4年に1回開催される全体大会であり、中央委員会が召集するとされる。

　最盛期には数十万人規模の組織だったといわれるが、公安調査庁によると「おおむね7万人」にまで縮少した（2016年2月時点）。各都道府県に地方本部を擁するほか、傘下に、在日本朝鮮商工連合会、在日本朝鮮青年同盟、在日本朝鮮民主女性同盟、在日本朝鮮青年商工会などの中央団体や、朝鮮通信社、学友書房、金剛山(クムガンサン)歌劇団など多くの事業体をもつ。機関紙は朝鮮新報社発行の『朝鮮新報』。公安調査庁から破壊活動防止法に基づく調査対象団体に指定されている。

［礒﨑敦仁　2020年2月17日］

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