1 Toward Mature Relationship between Korea and Japan in Global Era Sa Boo-sung

2 Contents 1.Introduction 2. Evaluation of Korea-Japan Relations since Diplomatic Normalization in Review on the Issues of Past History 4. Bilateral Coordination for North Korea Policies 5. Joint Efforts for Mature Relationship between Korea and Japan

3 -Experienced repeated ups and downs in Japan-Korea relations, but generally saw overall steady improvement since Whichever way Korea-Japan relations is described, the bilateral relationship is one that both countries cannot do without and the two presently hold a close relationship with active exchanges in various areas including political, economic and cultural affairs -Pragmatism-oriented Lee Myung-bak Government in Korea will likely manage to promote close ties with Japan 1. Introduction

4 2. Evaluation of Korea-Japan Relations since Diplomatic Normalization in 1965 (1) Overview of Korea-Japan Relations -Overall relations between the two countries continued to develop during the Cold Era -Both countries tried to seek future-oriented bilateral relations under new international atmosphere since the end of the Cold War. -In 1990s,Japanes leaders expressed apologies on several occasions and Korea opened its doors to Japanese popular culture. -Co-hosting of 2002 World Cup soccer game boosted a sense of closeness between peoples of the two countries.

5 2. Evaluation of Korea-Japan Relations since Diplomatic Normalization in 1965 (2) Distinctive Feature of Bilateral Relations in Politics and Diplomacy -Since late 1980s Korea-Japan relations repeated ups and downs like ‘a stone of Sisyphus’. -There was again chill between Korea and Japan in 2005 due to history issues like territorial dispute over Dokdo(Takeshims in Japan)islets. -Lee Myung-bak government pursued pragmatic policy to look to the future rather than past in Korea-Japan relations. But bilateral relations held back for a while due to Japanese decision to include its sovereignty claims over Dokdo islets in curriculum guidelines for junior high schools. -Korea and Japan agreed to foster mature bilateral relationship during the summit meetings in April and October this year. Shuttle diplomacy resumed.

6 2. Evaluation of Korea-Japan Relations since Diplomatic Normalization in 1965 (3) Rapid Progress of Civil Exchange between Korea and Japan -People-to-people and economic exchanges continued to expand and deepen in numbers and volume. -Trade volume increased from $43.1billion in 2001 to $82.6billion in Korea and Japan are each other’s third big exporting market million people traveled between Korea and Japan in 2007, which is compared to 3.51million travelers in 2001.

7 3. Review on the Issues of Past History Historical issues could still lead to a rocky relations between the two countries once they are brought up and dealt poorly. Both countries are required to show wisdom in handling these thorny issues. (1) History textbook issue −Selection rate of history textbook by “Fushosha” : 0.039% in 2001, 0.4% in 2005 −This result is attributable to Japanese civic groups’ campaign against schools’ adoption of the textbook. (2) Official visit to Yasukuni shrine –Key point of the controversy is likely to be the fact that A- class war criminals have been enshrined together with other dead. –Japanese people seem to get to the heart of the issue.

8 3. Review on the Issues of Past History (3) Dispute over the sovereignty claim to Dokdo (Takeshima in Japan) –Most Korean people see the territorial dispute as an inherently political issue. This is very volatile emotional issue because they believe the incorporation of Dokdo by Japan in 1905 was obviously part of the larger imperial Japanese goal of colonizing Korean Peninsula. –Both countries need to show wisdom in handling this issue. –Especially political leaders of both countries are required to be careful so that they should not bring up such sensitive issues for their political purposes.

9 4. Coordination for North Korean Policies between Korea and Japan –South Korea’s efforts to pursue reconciliation with North Korea has led to distrust between Korea and Japan. –Korea and Japan need to deal with North Korea issues in view of regional security and work hard to take North Korea out in international community.

10 5. Joint efforts for mature relationship between Korea and Japan (1) Development of East Asian Regionalism and Multilateral Cooperation System –Recently East Asian countries began to have a keen interest in regional financial institutions and cooperative security dialogues. –There are no sharply opposing issues in multilateral economic cooperation as there are in security issues –Due to its economic needs, Korea will need to actively participate in regional and bilateral economic cooperation led by Japan, which pursues common values such as a market economy and democracy. Korean domestic challenges such as settling history issues may be an obstacle.

11 5. Joint efforts for mature relationship between Korea and Japan (2) Common Action to Global Issues –The two countries need to strengthen the Korea-Japan strategic partnership in various fields. –The three-way summit between Korea, Japan and China will also be an important opportunity for Korea and Japan to cooperate to advance the security and prosperity of the North East Asian region. –Korea-Japan relations have reached a stage where it is no longer limited to bilateral terms but cannot but expand into a multilateral-level.

12 5. Joint efforts for mature relationship between Korea and Japan (3) Strengthening preventive measures for factors of potential conflict −Urgently needed to reestablish personal networks between political circles of both countries undergoing a shift in generation. −Public diplomacy for the need of Korea-Japan cooperation should be strengthened. −Expansion of communication channels and ‘networking’ among media and civil societies of both countries are needed. (4) Settlement of Past History and Common Perception of History –To accept and evaluate the apologies made by Japan and the change of Japan after the War. –Very little possibility of Japan’s returning to militarism. –Our understanding of history with an overly strong victim mentality should not become a drag on choices to be made for the present and future. –The attitude of the Japanese government reflecting on past history must be firm.

13 5. Joint efforts for mature relationship between Korea and Japan (5) Expansion of civil exchange -Personal and direct interactions are the fastest and most definite way to understand one another as well as shed prejudice. -Interactions among the general public as well as intellectuals should be further strengthened. -Networking among civic groups of both countries should be further strengthened.

14 5. Joint efforts for mature relationship between Korea and Japan (6) Efforts to promote confidence-building -Mutual trust can be gained when both countries are transformed into a true democracy. -Populist diplomacy strategy should be given up to gain mutual trust. -It is desirable to actively participate in building a regional institution or forum and develop trust-based relationship. -FTA negotiations between Japan and Korea suspended for years are advised to be resumed.

15 5. Joint efforts for mature relationship between Korea and Japan (7) Strengthening Bilateral Coordination for North Korean Policy −Japan likely continues to have reservations in giving incentives to North Korea as long as the matter of abduction of Japanese is not resolved. −The basis for cooperation between the two Koreas and Japan should start from their shared perception of belonging to ‘a community of non-nuclear states’.