Korea University, Korean educational institution in Kodaira, Japan.
Korea University is a Korean educational institution in Kodaira, Japan, offering eight four-year faculties covering fields from Political Economy and Science to Literature and Education. The campus in Tokyo Prefecture also runs two-year specialized courses, including programs in accounting, under its academic structure.
The institution opened in 1956, founded by the Chongryon organization with financial backing from North Korea for acquiring property and building the curriculum. This support helped establish a network of Korean educational facilities across Japan that continues to operate today.
Students speak Korean in their classes and live together in the dormitories, creating a distinct community within the surrounding Japanese environment. This practice connects generations of graduates through shared experiences and a learning environment that differs from the usual Japanese university life.
The school operates under Japanese law as a miscellaneous institution, which means its degrees are not automatically recognized in the same way as those from public universities. Visitors should note that access to the grounds is typically restricted and limited to specific events or prearranged visits.
Portraits of North Korean leaders hang in the hallways, while many younger students today show interest in South Korean culture and pop music at the same time. This contrast between official alignment and everyday preferences reflects the shifting relationships within the Korean community in Japan.
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