Treasure Yoshi reveals he’s actually Korean

An interesting fact about these ethnical Koreans commonly referred to as Zainichi(在日 literally means residing in Japan in both JP and chinese) Koreans is that they are divided in two categories those who own their allegiance to North Korea and those who hold it to the South, there is even North Korean schools in Japanese soil where they have portraits of NK leader and profess to follow their ideology something which I believe is still illegal in South Korea and would get you arrested.

But in recent decades more and more of these people are choosing to naturalize as Japanese and many can't speak Korean at all

Quote from kekebee

Aespa Giselle already revealed that she is half-half. She was born in Seoul to a Korean mother but her father is Japanese, so unlike Yoshi (who was born in Japan but wasn't given citizenship there) she had dual citizenship when she was little but she chose Japanese citizenship when she came of age, so now she is just a foreigner in Korea.

I see now that she confirmed being born in Seoul in the same Youtube series from the OP. Interesting so she moved to Japan sometime after being born, do you know if her father is a naturalized former Zainichi or ethnical Japanese?

Quote from Pinky_Peachy

This is the information that we've been told so far, by people who knew her etc. so I'm just going along with that. Unless she states otherwise, this is what I'll assume, but that will make no difference to me either way.

It seems she is confirmed to have inherited both nationalities from each side of her parents but choose to keep her Japanese nationality

After reading all the informations in this thread, I must say he's brave for revealing his origins. It's really sad that people who have nothing to do with their country's past have to go through discrimination.

Quote from vicll

An interesting fact about these ethnical Koreans commonly referred to as Zainichi(在日 literally means residing in Japan in both JP and chinese) Koreans is that they are divided in two categories those who own their allegiance to North Korea and those who hold it to the South, there is even North Korean schools in Japanese soil where they have portraits of NK leader and profess to follow their ideology something which I believe is still illegal in South Korea and would get you arrested.

But in recent decades more and more of these people are choosing to naturalize as Japanese and many can't speak Korean at all

I see now that she confirmed being born in Seoul in the same Youtube series from the OP. Interesting so she moved to Japan sometime after being born, do you know if her father is a naturalized former Zainichi or ethnical Japanese?

It seems she is confirmed to have inherited both nationalities from each side of her parents but choose to keep her Japanese nationality

No but as far as knets know, Giselle has a korean(Republic of Korea) mom and just a regular japanese dad. Nothing about Zainichi gyopo. Zainichi Gyopo usually means Korean people who moved to Japan during/before colonial era or during Korean War and hence they can choose between ROK or DPRK citizenship or claim ancestry visa from either korea.

Quote from kekebee

No but as far as knets know, Giselle has a korean(Republic of Korea) mom and just a regular japanese dad. Nothing about Zainichi gyopo. Zainichi Gyopo usually means Korean people who moved to Japan during/before colonial era or during Korean War and hence they can choose between ROK or DPRK citizenship or claim ancestry visa from either korea.

It's interesting that she choose JPN nationality, considering she decided on pursuing a career in Korea as an idol, that could earn her a lot of hate from nationalistic Koreans, if she was male that would get her out of having to enlist in the military but of course females don't have to enlist. Funnily enough I saw some time ago that she has trouble reading Japanese comments sent to her, while Yoshi of the OP who is a SKorean national, seems to be able to read japanese with no problems

Quote from vicll

It's interesting that she choose JPN nationality, considering she decided on pursuing a career in Korea as an idol, that could earn her a lot of hate from nationalistic Koreans, if she was male that would get her out of having to enlist in the military but of course females don't have to enlist. Funnily enough I saw some time ago that she has trouble reading Japanese comments sent to her, while Yoshi of the OP who is a SKorean national, seems to be able to read japanese with no problems

She spent all of her life in Japan (before she joined aespa) and she trained only a few months before debuting as a kpop idol, so she might have chosen japanese nationality since she has family there and wouldn't have known that she would actually become a kpop idol. And as long as she has her mom or her maternal grandparents who are ROK citizens, getting a family visa to stay and work and do whatever in korea is easy for her even if she is a foreigner.

Quote from kekebee

She spent all of her life in Japan (before she joined aespa) and she trained only a few months before debuting as a kpop idol, so she might have chosen japanese nationality since she has family there and wouldn't have known that she would actually become a kpop idol. And as long as she has her mom or her maternal grandparents who are ROK citizens, getting a family visa to stay and work and do whatever in korea is easy for her even if she is a foreigner.

Of course but even if she had no family in the ROK, SM Ent could sponsor her visa with no problems just like they do for her groupmate NingNing and others

My only contribution - he's a good rapper and stood out to me in jikjin.

I saw this posted on TREASURE's subreddit by someone who is Japanese and Korean. Very informative and definitively answers everything.

But ultimately we should just appreciate Yoshi and not be concerned how he identifies or what his family history.

After the 1theK interview Yoshi answered a fan's question on Weverse.

Fan: "Yoshi's Korean?"

Yoshi: "I am Yoshi."

Here's the Reddit Post:

I just wanted to post this because after the 1theK video that came out about a couple hours ago, Yoshi confirming his nationality is Korean I've seen so many people talking about it on twitter and Insta.

I'm not used to posting so sorry if it's the wrong flair or not appropriate to post. But I wanted to clarify stuff for Treasure and Yoshi fans.

Just a bit of background. I'm partially Korean but I'm Japanese. However, I've lived outside of Japan for about half of my life. I've been a fan of treasure since treasure box and although my bias is not Yoshi, he has always had a special spot in my heart because of his background.

Long story short, NO Yoshi does not have to go to the Military under any circumstances. The only reason he will go is if YOSHI himself wants to go serve in the Military. It is his choice and is not mandatory.

I don't want to make this anything political. However, one of the reason why I thought I should write this is to have at least some tuemes know about Yoshi's situation and help him in the future if he gets in a weird situation because of his Nationality. Why do I say this? Because in the next 5 years or so when enlistment comes up, I am confident that this topic of Yoshi will be talked about again with a much bigger audience, and at that time if won't just be tuemes but antis/netizens who hate Jp or Kr/others who just want to stir things up. (just with that clip of him saying his nationality is Korean, I see many posts in Eng/Jp/Kr)

Now to explain Yoshi's Nationality. Very long, sorry. Not good at summarizing.

Yoshi is 4th Gen Zainichi Korean. I saw posts claiming his mother is Korean or his father is Korean but in the video, I didn't really pick up him saying specifically who in the blood line is Korean. However, before he debut in Treasure I read an interview in a Japanese magazine where he explains how he is 4th Gen and his Great grandfather was Korean. So if there were no other Koreans he could be 1/8th Korean or if one of his parents Korean half Korean or more.

What's the difference between Zainichi Korean and being mixed Korean and Japanese? If you are half Korean but choose the Japanese Nationality you are just a Japanese person who is half Korean. (Ex, Giselle Aespa)If you are 1/8 Korean, 7/8 Japanese and lived in Japan your whole life but you hold a Korean nationality then you are Zainichi(Korean).

The sad reality for Zainichi people in Japan is in general Japanese people do not consider Zainichi as Japanese. Although most of Zainichi people lived in Japan their whole life many haven't even been to Korea. Probably more than half of 3rd/4th Gen don't even say they are Zainichi. They just live as Japanese. But to people who say they are Zainichi, since they have the Korean Nationality Japanese people will consider them Korean. However, in Korea most of the GE don't consider Zainichi as Korean even though they have Korean Nationality. It's understandable because they speak a different language (Japanese), lived in Japan their whole life, there's not much of a connection between them. A Japanese person who is half Korean will have much more ties with Korea than a Korean who is 4th Gen Zainichi.

I think people who are mixed blood can relate that sometimes it's hard to identify who you are, what country, culture you connect with, etc. It's just like that but because of Jp/Kr history I believe sometimes the Zainichi people have it harder. Although people our age get along well there still is a chance you'll feel discrimination from Japanese people. In Korea, especially to the older generation Zainichi will be seen as traitors to some. (People think that the Koreans who were in Japan after the war were forced but in reality a lot were rich Koreans who escaped. )

Now, will Yoshi being Korean effect his fans in Japan? No. However, once he has confirmed this, people in Japan will see him as Korean and not Japanese. Does it matter? No. But it's just a very slight difference subconsciously. Will Koreans see him as Korean? Maybe his fans will, but in general no, he is still Japanese in the Koreans eyes.

What I hope for is that when these things about Yoshi's nationality and enlistment related stuff come up, it doesn't go viral. We just keep calm and don't post or re-post. Once it catches the eyes of antis/or political people who like drama it will be tied to something political. They will dig up dirt out of nothing. In Japan there are some people (extremists in a way) who claim 3rd /4th gen Zainichi people should be naturalized or go back to Korea. Like I listed above, most 3rd 4th gen can't speak Korean, haven't been to Korea so those people believe Zainichi people should just choose to go to Korea or become Japanese. This claim is the one I fear most, because if it becomes a big issue it might effect some immature fans. They might think why isn't Yoshi choosing my Country?

Both Jp/Kr netizens or anyone who just like to stir things up will take anything and make it into a problem and in Yoshi's case mostly political since those topics spread fast.

So please, if you see people posting about Yoshi going to Military etc, kindly just inform them that he does not have to and leave it at that. Thank you for reading till the end.

Quote from vicll

Of course but even if she had no family in the ROK, SM Ent could sponsor her visa with no problems just like they do for her groupmate NingNing and others

Yes of course but I'm just talking in the case that she might not have been successful in her SM Ent audition or in debuting as a Kpop idol. She would have gone with JPN nationality since she has friends, family, and all of her education there but it wouldn't have been a difficult decision for her knowing that she can always travel back and forth and spend time in Korea all she wants if she wishes.