Motive of Establishment
The direct motive of the establishment dates back to 2001 when Japanese conservative lawmakers began to consider a new bill of Japanese naturalization.
At that time, the Japanese parliament was deliberating a bill for the foreign resident’s voting right in a regional election. Some lawmakers who opposed this bill proposed a new bill to simplify the Japanese naturalization procedures in an attempt to drastically reduce the need for the foreign resident’s voting right.
In response, 22 Zainichi Korean lawyers issued a statement opposing this attempt to bury the regional suffrage bill, and pointing out that if a new naturalization bill is required, it should reflect the accurate voice of the Zainichi Koreans who shall be the subject of the new bill. They further asserted that Zainich Korean’s human right protection should also be widely realized as a part of the attempts to clear up the Japanese colonization of Korea
These 22 lawyers who issued this statement agreed on the need for an organization for Zainichi Korean lawyers, and they came to establish LAZAK as the founding members.
At the time of establishment, LAZAK aimed for the following objectives.
- Realization of the "rule of law" for the Zainichi Koreans.
- Advocacy for the rights and freedoms of all minorities
- Unifying all Zainichi Korean lawyers
- Solidarity with all Koreans of the world
In line with these objectives, LAZAK has been performing various activities since its establishment such as hosting symposiums with scholars and intellectuals, providing legal assistance for the suits relating to the human rights of Zainichi Koreans, publishing books on Zainichi Koreans, and interacting with overseas Korean lawyers
