politics

Yoon tells Japanese lawmakers he opposes politicizing historical issues

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If Yoon stays true to his words, then good. Japan apologized countless times and paid money to Korea enough. We can’t change the past. Only move forward. It’s kind of like having a friendly relationship with your ex wife. You both hate each other a little bit but keep a friendly relationship for the greater good.

17 ( +18 / -1 )

Well if true, this will be a 180 degree course change for South Korean domestic politics as well as diplomatic and political relations with Japan. And it will be a nbig uphill task for the Yoon administration considering the near irrepairable damage that Moon createtd. The only parties who will be unhappy with this are North Korea and China who have supported and fanned this weak point in the US-JPN-SK military alliance.

Oh and before someone chimes in that SK and JPN are not allied:

https://japantoday.com/category/national/japan-to-supply-ammo-to-s-korean-troops-in-south-sudan

16 ( +21 / -5 )

The last opinion poll I could locate showed most young people desired a new direction in relations that would ease the history of animosity between the two countries. Some heavy lifting for the older policy makers, perhaps. But the incentive for them to keep trying is to be on the right side of a sentiment of the views of young voters.

12 ( +13 / -1 )

YubaruToday  07:53 am JST

History cant be swept under the rug, but at least he is willing to put it aside to enhance ties between the two.

Problem is can Kishida and the LDP do the same?

Why is this a problem? Kishida himself was the J-FM who negotiated with SK/FM Yun the 2015 "Permanent and Irreversible" Comfort Women Agreement. It was SK Pres Moon who unilaterally ripped it up. I don't blame Japan for being mistrustful of SK. It will be up to Pres Yoon to overcome all the damage Moon caused. I have far far more doubts as to whether Pres Yoon can do this. But for the sake of SK, JPN, US I sincerely hope so.

10 ( +11 / -1 )

Bingo, Ossan. Yoon's approach will change when he needs a ratings boost or gets some other motivation.

9 ( +14 / -5 )

Historical issues caused domestic issues so it would be a phenomenon if Yoon can separate them from the pink elephant in the room.

Gota give him a little credit for attempting a new strategy anyway.

9 ( +10 / -1 )

@marchelito

LDP or not, Japan hasn't used wartime history issues for domestic political purpose has it?

Rofl...hahaha....joke of the day, arigatoo.

Has it ? Like how. Don't be modest.

9 ( +13 / -4 )

At first I didn't like this guy, but so far he's keeping his promise and I hope we can all leave the past behind and join a strong alliance.

8 ( +9 / -1 )

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol told Japanese lawmakers on Wednesday he has no intention of using wartime history issues with Japan for domestic political gains,

Funny. How clearly New president said that? It is admitting that South Korean historical leaders always using historical issues finally and irrevocably solved for their political gains... though we already know it well

6 ( +15 / -9 )

History is always political.

6 ( +9 / -3 )

Problem is can Kishida and the LDP do the same?

Territorial issues (Takeshima, Northern territories) is on-going national level political issues.

Rejecting communication with and complaining to the counterpart who dump bilateral treaties/agreements is a matter of course. Other than that, whether LDP or not, Japan hasn't used wartime history issues for domestic political purpose has it?

5 ( +13 / -8 )

Fishing are ya? OK, I,ll bite for the fun of it even though you know better than anyone....how long has it been or how long before the summer election will it be until another Kuril or Dokdo islands article pops up in the media here to whip up the conservative vote for LDP? Alongside the ever reliable pre-election rollout of the NK abductee families of course?

@marchelito

Takeshima and Northern territory issues are on going territorial issues, not wartime history issues politicized for domestic political gain. Is there any bilateral treaty/declaration/agreement where Japan had ever promised and announced these territorial issues were resolved finally/completely/irreversibly with them? Do you know, then, Japanese Communist Party , for example, still insisting that not only those 4 islands but all of Kuril to the north end plus southern half of Sakhalin should belong to Japan?

In your mind, NK abductee issue is equal to war time history issue, hence to be forgotten? OK.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

@Tom Doley

Actually, you have hinted a small but good point.

For upcoming summer election, all parties should clarify their party's stances about Takeshima, Northern territories, NK Abductee issues, art-9, Yasukuni and what not. Too many, and for too long, we have been seeing politicians with only the mouth by dodging what the most ordinally citizens want to listen to. Yes, Japan has too much domestic issues. but many of the issues are too closely and globally connected to be separated to make voters to dream on for better Japan.

They should all step on fumi-e.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

kyushubillToday  02:45 pm JST

Good, BUT this will not sit well with the Korean people.

It will not sit well with the anti-JP portion of the Korean population.

But they are not all Koreans.

"South Korean high school students protest teachers forcing ‘anti-Japan’ acts"

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/30377804

4 ( +4 / -0 )

In other words, yet another hint that Japan actually isn't really interested in improving relations. Why am I not surprised?..

Not being surprise indicates you don’t know where the board lies. Japan and Korea negotiated a “final and irreversible” agreement to end it once and for all. Then the Korean government changed, and ripped up the agreement that Korea had previously agreed to, and instead of proposing an alternate proposal, instead whined about Japan and used hatred of Japan as a political motivator within Korea.

So the ball is in Korea’s court. They’re the ones that went back on the agreement, so it’s up to them to propose a new one.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

SK and JP relations may improve, but Yoon’s domestic policies of slashing wages and benefits while removing the limit of working hours a company can schedule workers will only do damage to the working classes in Korea.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Good, BUT this will not sit well with the Korean people.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Now, it is a two-way street, as I've said, so the question is can JAPAN follow suit? or will this be followed by lawmakers calling the media to schedule photo ops as they rush to Yasukuni and sign their names and official job positions -- going there as politicians, not individuals.

@Kiminjapan

It is not mutual but one sided problem, hence not the issue of following suit but is the issue of one counterparty breaching bilateral treaties/agreements, whether it could fix its domestic problems to come back to the table for healthy relations.

As for Yasukuni, you know you must sign your name and your occupations into the registration book to enter the main hall. For those lawmakers, they are supposed to lie and write down their occupations as "Jobless" or " Individual" or " None of your business"... to prove those as personal visits you are saying aren't you.

1 ( +6 / -5 )

During Wednesday's meeting in Seoul, Yoon also said he is ready to resume flights connecting Tokyo's Haneda airport and Seoul's Gimpo airport. Flights on the route have been suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Not wanting to risk a quarantine stay in Tokyo, the previous time coming from Europe (April 2022) to Kansai, Japan, I looked at the option of transiting in SK.

However, the best option was to take a plane to Manila and then from there, another plane into Kansai.

I wondered why there were no flights into Japan from Korea when I could fly directly to Japan from any number of European capitals?

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

The South Korean president recently met with Japan's Hatoyama. He will soon be unmasked. Besides, the National Assembly seats in South Korea are still dominated by the leftists. There is little to be expected in terms of results.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

While he may not want to politicize them, there are many within BOTH Japan and South Korea that see it as the only way to get people riled up against any closer ties between the two countries.

History cant be swept under the rug, but at least he is willing to put it aside to enhance ties between the two.

Problem is can Kishida and the LDP do the same?

-4 ( +10 / -14 )

What is Yoon's stance on Japanese politicians visiting Yamaguni Shrine?

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

No surprise here really, the Japanese and Korean right are traditionally close. Shinzo Abe's family have long and deep connection to the family of Sun Myung Moon and his Unification Church:

https://tragedyofthesixmarys.com/moon-bought-protection-japan/

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

They say Japan should not take actions that can be perceived as too conciliatory before Seoul takes some specific action to mend ties.

Masahisa Sato, chief of the LDP Foreign Affairs Division, told a party meeting on Wednesday in Tokyo that the government "should wait for South Korea to propose solutions (for the pending issues) that are acceptable to Japan."

In other words, yet another hint that Japan actually isn't really interested in improving relations. Why am I not surprised?..

-6 ( +1 / -7 )

@fumpy

Yoon’s domestic policies of slashing wages and benefits while removing the limit of working hours a company can schedule workers will only do damage to the working classes in Korea.

Yoon can't do that, he already recanted most of his campaign pledges because of opposition Democratic party's supermajority in the parliament.

There is very little Yoon can do that requires legislation or parliamentary approval.

-15 ( +1 / -16 )

Let's hope he does his best to see this happens, although I think it'll be impossible to completely avoid politicizing it, like this article and his statements even saying he wishes to avoid it do somewhat. Now, it is a two-way street, as I've said, so the question is can JAPAN follow suit? or will this be followed by lawmakers calling the media to schedule photo ops as they rush to Yasukuni and sign their names and official job positions -- going there as politicians, not individuals. Or heck, making the G20 in Hiroshima so that all heads of state must visit the bombing sites. Methinks not. So, while this is good news if Yoon makes the effort to back up his words, it would be nice to see Japan do the same since they so clearly expect it of him. Surely it's not just a "they have to do it, but with us it is different" thing.

-17 ( +1 / -18 )

While he may not want to politicize them, there are many within BOTH Japan and South Korea that see it as the only way to get people riled up against any closer ties between the two countries.

Asian and Middle Eastern political parties in particular have a history of using nationalism to cover their ineptitude and complete disregard of the general public's well being. It is an old tried and true tactic and it works. Without nationalism, support for the LDP would collapse overnight- although even if THAT happened I doubt that much would actually change.

History cant be swept under the rug, but at least he is willing to put it aside to enhance ties between the two.

Problem is can Kishida and the LDP do the same?

Exactly! Well said Yubaru! If its not reciprocal it doesn't work, does it?

-18 ( +3 / -21 )

@OssanJapan

Well if true, this will be a 180 degree course change for South Korean domestic politics as well as diplomatic and political relations with Japan.

It's not, because Yoon cannot deliver what Kishida is demanding as a precondition; damages case trials of forced laborers and the resulting seizure of Japanese assets, and comfort women.

-18 ( +2 / -20 )

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