News Japan-South Korean relations

The wartime labor compensation issue has long been a thorn in Japan-South Korea relations. Thursday's announcement is based on a plan laid out in March for the Foundation for Victims of Forced Mobilization by Imperial Japan to pay plaintiffs the compensation they were awarded in the court case. A successful payment could help soften criticism in South Korea against the compensation plan. Of the 15 plaintiffs who won the suit, the bereaved families of 10 had already accepted compensation proposed by the government as of April. The families of two others and the three surviving former laborers had refused the money, demanding an apology and compensation from the Japanese side. The remaining four plaintiffs, including two survivors, have continued to refuse compensation under the new plan. The government plans to continue to try to convince the remaining holdouts to accept compensation.

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A January poll by Hankook Research showed Japan's likeability score among Koreans was the highest since 2018, with those aged 29 or younger the most favourable. China, which had scored nearly twice the levels of Japan in 2019, rated among the lowest, alongside Russia and North Korea. A March survey by the same pollster showed 40% of Koreans backed Yoon's compensation plan, with 53% opposed. But more than 51% of respondents aged 29 or less backed it, while 36% viewed it negatively. Political dynamics are spurring the young to take a less antagonistic view of Japan, said James Kim, a regional specialist at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies. "China is clearly less preferred than countries like the United States and Japan," Kim said, citing Beijing's curbs on freedom in Hong Kong and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Even if younger people are not completely satisfied by South Korea's efforts to resolve thorny historical issues, Kim added, "They see a more immediate threat and recognise the benefit of aligning with other like-minded democracies in the region."

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Yoon has pulled South Korea closer to long-standing ally Washington while seeking to bury the hatchet with former colonial power Japan. Seoul and Tokyo, key U.S. security allies, have long been at odds over historical issues tied to Japan's brutal 1910-1945 colonial occupation of the Korean peninsula, such as sexual slavery and forced labour. But speaking at an event marking the anniversary of liberation from Japan's rule, Yoon said the two "are now partners who share universal values and pursue common interests". He reiterated that Tokyo, Seoul and Washington must "share North Korea's nuclear weapons and missiles data in real-time".

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According to an annual joint poll by Japanese nonprofit think tank Genron NPO and the Seoul-based East Asia Institute, a record-high 37.4% of 1,000 Japanese respondents said their view on South Korea is "good," up from 30.4% a year earlier. Those who answered "bad" accounted for 32.8%, down from 40.3%. Since the survey began in 2013, most respondents had a negative view of South Korea until last year.

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Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa on Oct. 15 expressed gratitude to her South Korean counterpart for Seoul's assistance in evacuating 51 Japanese nationals from Israel as an additional eight arrived in Dubai on a government-chartered flight. "We agreed that the two countries will continue to help each other and cooperate in efforts to bring the situation back under control at an early date and get their citizens out of Israel," Kamikawa told reporters after talking with Park Jin over the phone.

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The main opposition Democratic Party called the vote the "new Korea-Japan war" at one point during the election campaign. The Democrats sought to rally voters against conservative legislators considered too friendly with Japan. They also called for protests against the Yoon administration's endorsement of Japanese plans to release treated water from the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant into the ocean.

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• Japan's historical approach to making concessions to South Korea has shifted. Recent Japanese Prime Ministers, including Shinzo Abe and his successors, have adopted a more steadfast stance, refusing to yield to Seoul's demands, regardless of their intensity.
• South Korea's confidence as an advanced economy has grown, and it now hosts numerous multinational corporations. Consequently, Japan is perceived as just one of many countries. Despite lingering anti-Japanese sentiment due to historical colonial rule, recent elections have not prominently focused on these tensions, reflecting a societal shift where Japan's influence at the ballot box has diminished.
• Foreign policy is a critical factor in South Korean opinion polls supporting Yoon. As one of the current administration's positive aspects, it is expected to remain a priority for Yoon until his term concludes in 2027. Improving relations with Japan may play a role in this endeavour.
• Younger, social media-savvy voters exhibit less party loyalty and vote based on specific issues or candidates. They tend to have a global and pragmatic outlook, emphasizing human rights and gender issues. The growing negative sentiment toward China reflects their opposition to authoritarianism. These trends may offer insights into Japan's relations with South Korea.
• According to a South Korean government source, Japan and South Korea align their votes on United Nations resolutions approximately 98% of the time. Despite their bilateral issues, both nations share common values related to democracy, free markets, and strategic interests in the global economy.

The January-May passenger volume jumped 46% from a year earlier to an all-time high for the period. The two-way traffic was twice as large as the 5.08 million trips made between South Korea and China. Hyundai Card, South Korea's leading credit card company by settlement value, entered into collaborations with Japanese partners, including e-commerce company Rakuten Group, and electronics chain Bic Camera. Around 500,000 Hyundai Card holders visited Japan last year, seven times the 2021 total, according to the company's analysis of customer travel trends based on payment data. About one in five went more than once. Hyundai Card chose services and facilities in Japan that are popular among South Korean travelers to offer discounts and delivery services to cardholders.

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Diplomatic relations between South Korea and Japan have improved markedly over the past few years. That is in large part thanks to Yoon Suk Yeol, South Korea's president, who came to office in 2022 determined to repair ties with Japan following a period of bitter disputes over compensation for atrocities committed during the colonial era. Kishida Fumio, Japan's departing prime minister, will visit Seoul this week for a final summit with Mr Yoon. But officials in both countries also credit generational change for helping to transform the relationship.Today's youth are on far better terms with their neighbours than their parents or grandparents were. While just over 20% of South Koreans over 50 years old have a positive impression of Japan, over 45% of 18- to 29-year-olds do, according to Genron NPO, a Japanese think-tank, and the East Asia Institute, a South Korean one, which conduct annual studies of public opinion. Among Japanese, over 45% of 18- to 29-year-olds see South Korea positively, compared with 35% of those over 50.

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Indeed, Ishiba has made numerous statements expressing his deep feelings toward the Korean Peninsula. "Without recognizing how deeply the 'annexation' -- which stripped the country of its culture, language, public systems and even its military -- has wounded the national pride and identity of its people, true trust between Japan and South Korea cannot be established," Ishiba wrote in his recent book "Conservative Politician: My Policies, My Destiny," referring to Japan's annexation of the Korean Peninsula in 1910. "With Ishiba at the helm, many historical issues -- responsible for 80% of our conflicts with Japan -- will be resolved," said a South Korean official. "Ishiba is totally different from Abe." There is little doubt that Japan-South Korea relations will continue to improve under Ishiba's leadership. However, excessive expectations from South Korea could backfire. I have witnessed numerous instances where South Korean disillusionment with Japan turned to anger when no tangible progress was made under a new Japanese leader.

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I must admit that I have mixed emotions about Japan. Since childhood, I've been deeply interested in history, particularly Korea's modern history intertwined with my daily life. Museums and historical movies related to the Korean War and independence movements during Japanese occupation have always fascinated me. My grandmother often recounted how Japanese soldiers took away everything made of metal, from cooking pots to spoons and chopsticks. My grandmother was very petite, the sweetest and most quiet person. It was some of the rare moments of seeing her being visibly upset when recalling these memories.

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Does this mean I dislike Japan? Not at all. In fact, Korea and Japan are so culturally intertwined and geographically close that separating them is almost impossible. Like many Koreans, I enjoyed watching Japanese anime and reading manga as a teenager. In high school, most Korean students choose to learn Chinese or Japanese as their second language. I chose Japanese. The similarities between Korean and Japanese made it easy to learn, and I enjoyed its soft, charming pronunciation.

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Several years ago, there was a "No Japan" movement in Korea, reflecting enduring historical sentiments. Nonetheless, the truth is Koreans are the most passionate tourists in Japan. Statistically, more Koreans visit Japan than any other nationality. Whether we want it or not, the cultural influence between our countries persists from the past to the present. As a Korean, visiting certain historical places in Japan can still evoke painful feelings. However, I am genuinely grateful for the opportunity to vividly experience the beauty of this wonderful country. My visit to Japan has given me the chance to more openly embrace and to truly appreciate their culture and country.

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The situation on the Korean Peninsula has been marked by unexpected developments, including North Korea's recent deployment of troops to Russia. The latest emergency declaration further adds to the unpredictability of the region. A senior Japanese diplomat admitted not having anticipated such a controversial and sudden move from Seoul. A planned visit to South Korea by Japan's Defense Minister Gen Nakatani is also now in doubt. "I am deeply shocked by this news," said Nakatani. The upcoming change in U.S. leadership is also clouding the outlook for Japan-South Korea relations, as President Joe Biden played a key role in improving strained ties between the two Asian neighbors. Last year, Biden hosted Yoon and then-Prime Minister Fumio Kishida near Washington in the first trilateral summit outside of a multilateral setting.

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...over 70 per cent of respondents voiced concerns that recent political unrest in South Korea, sparked by President Yoon Suk Yeol's declaration of martial law, could affect relations with Japan. The weekend telephone survey also revealed a 3.5 percentage point drop in support for Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's Cabinet since the previous mid-November poll, bringing the approval rating down to 36.5 per cent. This decline comes amid doubts about his minority government's ability to pass legislation and secure the budget. Meanwhile, the disapproval rating rose by 4.3 points, reaching 43.1 per cent.

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According to a statement issued by the Japanese government, both leaders expressed their "hopes for an early opportunity for a face-to-face meeting." This marked the first conversation between Lee, who assumed office on 4 June, and Ishiba. The call, which began at noon and lasted approximately 25 minutes, saw the two leaders affirm the importance of Japan–South Korea ties and the significance of trilateral cooperation with the United States. They also agreed that Japan–South Korea relations should be developed stably and constructively.

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Ishiba is held in high regard in South Korea for his forthright political style, demonstrated by his willingness to speak candidly even to the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, a conservative leader long seen as an unassailable figure in Japanese politics. He has also earned praise for his sustained interest in historical issues that have often strained bilateral relations. Seoul now appears intent on extending diplomatic support to the embattled Ishiba. However, Seoul's interest in Ishiba's continued leadership stems not only from his personal appeal but also from growing apprehension about the rise of right-wing forces in Japan.

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Japan began providing Official Development Assistance (ODA) to China in 1979 and continued until 2008, when the government officially ended aid to China. This means Japan's ODA to China lasted for about 29 years. The aid was initially aimed at supporting China's economic modernization and infrastructure development, but as China's economy grew and it became a major global economic power, Japan phased out concessional loans and grants.

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Ukigumo said:

I thought she was a heavy metal drummer? She's not particularly…accomplished!

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thomas said:

Yes, I have to agree. It's all about the gesture.

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