The Multicultural Educational Significance of Zainichi Korean Ethnic Education : Focusing on “Tsu–doi” and the Traditional Arts Club of Keong-guk School

This study examines the cultural practices of ethnic education for Zainichi Koreans from a multicultural education perspective focusing on two cases: the “Higashi–Osaka Children's Group Familiar with Korean Culture” and the Traditional Arts Department of Baekdu Academy's Keong- guk School. In the case of the “Higashi–Osaka Children's Gathering Familiar with Korean Culture,” Japanese students, through observational and cognitive participation, came to understand the experiences of Zainichi Korean students and the structures of discrimination, while reconstructing their relationships with others and reflecting on mutual respect. The case of the Traditional Arts Department at Keongguk School demonstrated that Japanese students, through experiential and practical participation, actively engaged in cultural exchange and mutual understanding by physically learning Korean traditional culture and the cultural expressions of Zainichi Korean students. Both cases confirmed that ethnic education extends beyond merely maintaining minority identity. It also serves as a space for the majority within Japanese society to reflect on discriminatory structures and learn about possibilities for coexistence.