S Korea, Japan should pursue cooperation: Moon

LOL @ the Japanese here claiming that Japan is a bastion of free speech. This must be the notorious Japanese delusion that I keep hearing of.

Japan has its own brand of cancel culture, except the perpetrators are mostly from the right rather than the left as is seen in the west.

Any academic doing a thorough investigation of Imperial Japanese crimes against humanity are immediately flooded with hate messages. These Japanese cry babies go after the university and threaten the admins to fire and defund any academics who publish opposing viewpoints.

this koreans are sore losers..

If South Korea is ready to stop living in the past, they'll find that Japan is already moving into the future and they'll need to hurry to catch up. Japan has apologized repeatedly, and I've personally seen the Emperor (Akihito) bow deeply as he expresses regret for the sad things Japan did to various countries in Asia. Going by the numbers, South Korea had its national destiny altered by Japan for 25 years, but did not suffer anywhere near the terrible sadness China suffered. They have created a distorted "national meme" that they are one of the most victimized countries in the world, when this is simply not the case, comparatively speaking. Japan did its best to apologize and pay compensation for the Comfort Women only to have South Korea renig on the deal after the apology was made and money paid. The time for that kind of nonsense is behind us.

jeancolmarMar. 2  02:25 pm JST

If the Japanese rightists stop lying about its crimes against humanity in Korea reconciliation would come sooner.

The Crimes against Humanity were against other Asians, not Koreans. Koreans guards beat the Allied and Filipino POWs in the Bataan Death March. A Korean General was even convicted as a Class-A War Criminal and executed for it.

And of course the majority of Japanese ancestry came from the Korean peninsula.

How ridiculous is that !

Prejudice issues is a big problem for both countries.

Regional stability ? Whats that?

The two countries are much stronger together than they are apart.

Harry_GattoToday 04:15 pm JST

Ibrahim AhmedMar. 2 11:16 pm JST

There is nothing wrong with Yasukuni Jinja, it is a religious site, a prayer place. If the people buried there is bad, there is many others who died who is not those "criminals."

Nobody is/has been buried at Yasukuni Jinja.

This is correct, and the shrine is not dedicated only for victims of WWII.

Its history is about 150 years for everybody who died serving Japan during wars.

No human remains are kept within Yasukuni Shrine.

President Moon Jae In was always dreaming to open up North Korea and tried to blame Japan for all and everything. It did not look bad for him at the beginning. North Korea appeared to be responsive and even agreed to start direct negotiations with USA. Unfortunately, however there was no progress, so what to do now? To try to talk again in friendly terms with Japan?

After WWII the Japanese transferred the Korean colony in a relatively good condition to the USA.

It is true that Koreans suffered a lot in the past, but while Japan might be fully kept responsible for what happened during WWII, Japan is not responsible for the horrible Korean War 5 years later, which destroyed totally wide parts of the Korean peninsula and ended with a loss of approx 2 to 3 million Korean people.

A Japanese military did not even exist at that time.

It is now time that the South Korean and the Japanese government do their best to co-operate in many aspects, together they are about 180 million people, it should become a very productive region, more than even before.

About North Korea, I don't know what to do, it is up to China to become more active in this issue.

Ibrahim AhmedMar. 2  11:16 pm JST

There is nothing wrong with Yasukuni Jinja, it is a religious site, a prayer place. If the people buried there is bad, there is many others who died who is not those "criminals."

Nobody is/has been buried at Yasukuni Jinja.

In South Korea, Koreans are not taught about the achievements of Koreans who founded universities, hospitals, trading companies, music halls, orchestras, and movie theaters during the Japanese occupation, nor about the Japanese who provided technical and financial support. Rather, they teach them as sinners.

South Korea enshrines as heroes the terrorist who assassinated the Japanese prime minister, and 3,000 innocent Koreans who were active during Japanese rule are buried from history as criminals. You should keep in mind that this is a pretty crazy country.

Moon stating that Japan has To excepted history. Japan have excepted history. It is SK that keeps on dragging out the old chestnut of you invaded us and did this and that. Moon, build a bridge and get over it. Really Moon should apologise for always using pass history to better position itself when negotiating deals with Japan.

I am more worried that South Korea will attack Japan than China or North Korea. The South will play games for awhile and maybe even sign a treaty, then shred any treaty and throw away any progress. Tsushima will be the target of Koren aggression.

Korean people will continue to have massive hatred towards Japanese people, and it will never go away. Not sure how to remove the hatred. Japan cannot apologies for something they did not do, and they have evidences for it. They have evidences that disproves either the exaggeration or fabrication done by other countries.

Innocent until proven guilty is the common logic, and as long as Japan has evidences to disprove what happened, then they are innocent in view of the law. But if Japan has evidences, why were they guilty? Because the court system is more political than fair.

This will never happen as long as the school books continue to teach the division to the young children in schools.

Dango bongToday  04:28 pm JST

even as wartime history and other disputes continue to weigh on the bilateral relationship.

Japan paid reparations to Korea years ago and Korea promised to not make wartime issues a petulant talking point. Koreans are acting like children.

Yeah, Japan already did everything to "apologies" for war crimes that was either fabricated and/or exaggerated, but Korean government will continue to lie and spread hatred to their people towards Japanese. The Korean and Chinese people coming to Japan, many of them have the mindset of hatred towards Japanese, and will be happy to do crimes because they wish Japan to be destroyed. I pray to God to protect them

There is nothing wrong with Yasukuni Jinja, it is a religious site, a prayer place. If the people buried there is bad, there is many others who died who is not those "criminals." Japan is constantly being forced to accept the lies and fabrication and exaggeration made by Western world + Chinese government + Korean people.

Japan will continue to deny the allegations made, and as long as there are evidences that says they might be innocent, then they are innocent until proven guilty. That is how the world works, and China and Korea is no exception to this common sense.

Japan paid reparations to Korea years ago and Korea promised to not make wartime issues a petulant talking point. Koreans are acting like children.

But South Korea claims the deal was illegitimate because it was a military junta in charge at the time basically a military dictatorship which oddly enough the United States was really chummy chummy with and recognized.

Funny how that works.

Which is also funny is that instead of going after those military leaders and the military itself which benefited from all the payments and the corporations that benefited from the payments or they go after Japan demanding more money not their own Koreans

President Moon Jae In could have turned the leaf of history, reached out to Japans next generation.

Yes J school Children

No, President Moon Jae In, detests Japan and everything it stands for

Unable to move beyond his historic loathing and abhorrence of modern day Japan.

Moon stands for against form of pardon, of forgiveness, exoneration for a people that were not even born to J imperialism.

Moon will forever be remembered a wheeling out comfort women in front of the Japanese embassy in there later stages of life.

Those posters who always side with SK, whether you're Korean, Zainichi, Gyoppo, Having Korean spouse, whatever, Try to read " RED WEDNESDAY" which proves how South Korean NGO, exactly speaking, North Korean's minions have been brainwashed kids and fooled the entire world. Unless you could refute the contents, please do shut up.

Japan don’t ever do anything sk will huff n buff n puff n blow itself away very simple don’t waste ur time n effort with sly country like sk n for real history everyone knows it let sk teach its version spiced up with lies to its citizens bt the world will know the real truth n one very important thing Japan must remember is enough is enough n no more thats the only way the peaceful way let the arrogant one huff n buff n puff N blow

jeancolmarToday  02:25 pm JST

If the Japanese rightists stop lying about its crimes against humanity in Korea reconciliation would come sooner.

If those brainwashed by ugly Korean fake narratives shut their mouth up, reconciliation come sooner.

At this moment, those proving such fake narratives all lies and frauds are Koreans inside South Korea.

You check what they are insisting on and South Korea, first of all, must listen to them before endlessly crying about this fraud-show.

even as wartime history and other disputes continue to weigh on the bilateral relationship.

Japan paid reparations to Korea years ago and Korea promised to not make wartime issues a petulant talking point. Koreans are acting like children.

Most Japanese people have learned that South Korea is not a country that they can believe.

If anyone is interested in the truth.... Please listen to full speech by Moon and his government. Full, full of anti-Japan propaganda followed by 2 to 3 nice words the media likes to copy and paste then repeat, instead of the hours of anti-Japan trash they like to mention in those speeches.

South Korea can't be trusted if you look at the history of agreements signed and then backtrack by future Korean governments.

South Korea made the 3 famous promises to Beijing, one of them was no alliance with Japan and USA.

South Korea never joined Quad Alliance to balance China, instead getting closer to Beijing and North Korea.

South Korea made no emergency plans for Taiwan, doesn't want to get involved, Japan and USA problems, Taiwan is not a Korean issue.

Forget China and Russia.... South Korea is focus on Japan!! Thats their focus!! Preparing for Japanese attack and invasion in 2022. Pathetic Anti-Japan Squid Games at play by Korea as always.

If the Japanese rightists stop lying about its crimes against humanity in Korea reconciliation would come sooner.

That idea of future oriented cooperation is not wrong, no it’s splendid and should be followed, but packing it again and again into quite some history related accusations and demands is once more contradicting.

KuroTokageToday  10:53 am JST

They don’t teach history in Japan anymore. That’s what i was referring to when i said there’s little real media freedom in Japan

As someone who has attended school and university (and a pretty good one) in Japan, ............... - unlike countries as China, Europe, etc 

Didn't your school and pretty good university teach you that Europe is not a country?

The above photo is evidence enough President Moon Jae In contribution to building constructive relations between Japan and South Korea.

University students tearing up a flag.

President Moon Jae In spent most of his Presidential career in office, piously vomiting his own unique brand of political poison at the Government of Japan and most of all its people. President Moon Jae In purpose was to fan belligerence from generation to generation. His legacy.

Japan a country whose own people value peace and promote a constitution, devoted to the pursuit of peaceful reconciliation.

President Moon Jae In, corrupted South Korean court system to breach international law.

To use frail pensioner as political footballs.

President Moon Jae In must be seen as an example that historic reconciliation cannot and must not ever be left in the hands of politicians.

A royal commission be established, step one starts within the education system of both countries.  

No more political apologises

shogun36Today  09:19 am JST

Sure.

As soon as everyone starts cutting the crap, forgetting the distant past and moves on to the future, things can get rolling.

Can’t do that with the constant bickering whining babies on BOTH sides of the Pacific though.

China and the U.S.?

In the 2020 world press freedom index Korea was at 42 which was better than the US and Japan was significantly lower at 67.

That doesn't mean anything. This index is published by a leftwing organization and therefore the ranking just shows how woke and biased the press in a country is. Fact is, in Japan there is not a single website that is being censored, there is not a single book on index, there is not a single thing that you're not allowed to talk about. Test me, I'll prove it to you.

Also saying you weren't censored in Yahoo Japan is not saying much since it's where many of the extreme right in Japan post.

Right. But I prefer to call my political views as 保守派

"When Japan can sympathize with the neighboring country's wounds, it would become a country to be trusted,"

When South Korea can face the truth about it's role in WWII it would become a country to be trusted.Eventually South Korea's historical revisionism is going to surface. Korea was not invaded by Japan. Koreans fought on the side of Imperial Japan and invaded other Asian countries. The treatment of Allied POWs is the result of Korean IJA guards and a Korean IJA General was executed as a Class-A War Criminal for it.

Sorry Moon, but Japan is already a country that can be trusted. All of Asia short of China, North Korea and South Korea trusts Japan. It's South Korea that conitunes to milk US tax dollars for their defense will appeasing North Korea and China, and doing everything possible to obstruct US strategic policy by perpetuating their fixation on colonial Japan. The flag these brainwashed "protesters" are ripping up flies alongside the Stars & Stripes in joint excercises that directly relate to the defense of South Korea. Get a clue.

The world is changing and there is going to be a time when South Korea is going to have to decide which side it is really on.

KuroTokageToday  10:53 am JST

And Japan is the only country in the world with an absolute right to freedom of speech - u

In the 2020 world press freedom index Korea was at 42 which was better than the US and Japan was significantly lower at 67.

Also saying you weren't censored in Yahoo Japan is not saying much since it's where many of the extreme right in Japan post.

https://rsf.org/en/ranking

Enough of stereotypical posts.

Japan did not invade Korea. Japan annexed it and Korea wanted it and agreed and signed on treaty.

Japan did not treat Koreans badly.

Japan immediately ended slavery on the peninsula and introduced compulsory education for every children including those unable to attend the school due to their ex-slave status or poverty. The 2nd Imperial University was established in Korea even before Osaka Imperial University.

Japan has had basically no change in government for more than half a century and in terms of media freedom Korea rates much higher than Japan.

If you had to put money down which country would you say allows for more free exchange of ideas? A country that has changes of government and significantly freer media or a country with almost no change in government with a media that is heavily controlled by the ruling party? Stop gaslighting us.

You know Korea is not the brainwashed country.

Cut the craps. Japan does not socially kill those who trying to expose historical truths to be humble in front of history by prosecuting or even jail them. Look at those academia, who had got victimized sacrificed their carrer

* **An Byeong-Jik , Park-Yuha, *** Kim Wan-sob, Lee Yong-hoon, Lew Seok-Choon, and what not.**

Forget freedom of the press, there’s no academic freedom whatsoever in current South Korea in the first place. 64 academics from the US, Japan, South Korea have recently press-released joint statements against South Korea’s justice.

South Korean government has been completely the three wise monkeys. It knows all those Korean narratives turned out to be fake.

The AvengerToday  10:55 am JST

Japan did some abhorrent things, but it seems to me that the 1965 agreement settled forced labor and comfort women issues

It did until as long qs the Japanese put up the front of being genuinely reflective of their past.

All that was tossed out when Shinzo Abe started going to yasukuni thereby showing how fake Japanese politician words were.

Of course Abe wanted to foment a new nationalism to change their constitution so he used anti Korean sentiment in order to gain votes and power.

Of course laying claim to dokto island was another tactic to create a provocation and thereby get more votes.

It was Abe that started it and it's pure gaslighting to say the Koreans wanted the relationship to sour.

The LDP is all about creating provocations against Koreans in order to stay in power.

Great, another "stable genius". As soon as he became president, he tore up the agreement (number 3 or 4 maybe 5) that had been signed between the 2 countries and now when he's about to leave, he's suggesting "South Korea, Japan should pursue cooperation". Yeah, you did great, right?

Japan did some abhorrent things, but it seems to me that the 1965 agreement settled forced labor and comfort women issues.

They don’t teach history in Japan anymore. That’s what i was referring to when i said there’s little real media freedom in Japan

As someone who has attended school and university (and a pretty good one) in Japan, I will tell you that history is being taught in school. Just without the lies. And Japan is the only country in the world with an absolute right to freedom of speech - unlike countries as China, Europe, etc where people might even face criminal charges to expressing their freedom. If you don't like media outlets in this country, create your own.

And Japanese media doesn't censor comments (I have more than 60k comments on Yahoo Japan, none of them deleted).

Moon wags his tail, but when Japan reaches out to pet him, I guarantee he'll snarl and bite its hand.

I'm surprise none of your students pointed out the obvious difference that American soldiers who were treated badly by Japan were actually in Japan, and soldiers treated badly by the Viet Cong were actually in Vietnam. There is literally no comparison to Chinese and Koreans who were treated badly at home by a conquering army. In both case, the US was like Japan, an invading army.

@Commanteer. Fair point but debatable in some areas. Did Japan not bomb Pearl Harbor before Iwo Jima? But history is muddied with conflicting reports which is why it is important to move on and look forward as you pointed out.

It’s not magical thinking to believe in Japanese war crimes. Japan was a fascist country. They don’t teach history in Japan anymore. That’s what i was referring to when i said there’s little real media freedom in Japan

It’s gaslighting to say that it’s the Koreans who are brainwashed.

Japan has had basically no change in government for more than half a century and in terms of media freedom Korea rates much higher than Japan.

If you had to put money down which country would you say allows for more free exchange of ideas? A country that has changes of government and significantly freer media or a country with almost no change in government with a media that is heavily controlled by the ruling party? Stop gaslighting us.

You know Korea is not the brainwashed country.

Back on topic please.

I actually come from an Irish family and have spent time in Ireland and I can tell you you are incorrect.

Oh my father hold Irish citizenship, my grandmother was born in Ireland, benn there many times but hey, you say so you must be right, oh your Irish side Orange?

“Um, Sam, you weren’t even alive during most of these events. How can you feel pain for something you didn’t experience?” 

I'm surprise none of your students pointed out the obvious difference that American soldiers who were treated badly by Japan were actually in Japan, and soldiers treated badly by the Viet Cong were actually in Vietnam. There is literally no comparison to Chinese and Koreans who were treated badly at home by a conquering army. In both case, the US was like Japan, an invading army.

That said, people need to move on from war. Nursing historical grievances only creates more war. In this dangerous world, South Korea and Japan should be obvious allies and partners. Moon, though, has dirtied the water so much that his words here are pathetic and empty. When things get ugly with China, who are they going to run to for help? They could have had an ally at their back, but they wasted it.

Hopefully, whoever replaces Moon will show a little wisdom and turn things around.

Yasakuni Shrine always ends up in a heated debate.

Nearly everyone from that time is dead or so old they can barely remember the facts.

I have distant Irish family all Roman Catholic, some quite hardline on Irish unification.

But few if any of them or any of the Irish I have met are as constantly angry about the past and the English/British as the Koreas are about Japan and remember Ireland was under the thumb of the English far far far longer and suffered far greater.

Grow up Korea.

When there is Japanese shrine in Japan at the level of Yasukini for the millions of non Japanese victims of the fascist Japanese military then i can believe Japanese politicians are sincere.

It is far to late to fix the problems, one side has vilified the other for so long, blaming the people of the other side for wrong doings of those long dead and done such a good job at it that it is now impossible to even have a rational or civil discussion between the two.

But here is the riddle what country am I talking about?

Is it so difficult for him to realize that he is an obstacle?

After listening to some of my Chinese and Korean students endlessly and passionately complain about Japan’s wartime atrocities a few years ago, I said I could fully understand and empathize. I then told them of the inhuman treatment I suffered at the hands of the Viet Cong which was preceded by horrific treatment from both Koreans and Chinese during the Korean War. I concluded by saying the treatment I received from the Japanese at Iwo Jima was the worst. By now the students were smirking to each other and I was offended and demanded to know what was so funny about my suffering. “Um, Sam, you weren’t even alive during most of these events. How can you feel pain for something you didn’t experience?” Every laughed. I sat quietly for some time before saying, “Excellent question.” The laughter stopped and class ended. In the next class I taught the English phrase, “the whipping boy.” It was a good lesson.

Sure.

As soon as everyone starts cutting the crap, forgetting the distant past and moves on to the future, things can get rolling.

Can’t do that with the constant bickering whining babies on BOTH sides of the Pacific though.

I mean, Yasuguchi. Stop going to Yasuguchi!

Stop going to Yamakuni!

President Moon Jae In said Tuesday that South Korea and Japan should pursue cooperation to help achieve regional stability and prosperity, even as wartime history and other disputes continue to weigh on the bilateral relationship.

"And to do so, Japan has to face history and be humble in front of history," added Moon,

I said it before and I’ll say it again:

Mr. Moon,

the Japanese will not get down on their knees.

...

... time to move on ...

When Battleship island was granted world heritage status the JP government promised that the abuse of Koreans there would be part of the text panels explaining the history. Just two months ago the heritage organisation complained again that that has not been done.

This and countless other examples including never ending Yasukuni shrine visits by politicians shows that it is Japan, and not Korea, that needs to get its act together.

Or South Korea could anytime flip the table and join the RED team

It is "the current generation's duty for the future generation" to seek closer ties between Seoul and Tokyo, Moon said in a speech

Clearly we haven't reached the portion of the South Koran election cycle where they all become vehemently anti-Japanese to whip up public support.

It will only happen once the governments of Japan & South Korea stop appeasing their nationalist voters.....

ChiliToday  07:07 am JST

It’s done all those criminals are in hell.

According to certain Japanese politicians they're not criminals under Japanese law, and they're at Yasukuni Shrine, the politicians' go-to spot for good PR.

Little Kim of NK must be watching Putin and thinking, Hummmmm so this is how you do it!???

if only Japan and South Korea could place their historical issues aside and just cooperate on things that matter more, there wouldn't be any problems between them. I agree with Coffee there, Moon wants to rally the Koreans into harboring such ideals against Japan as a unifying force that will solidify support for him, it's one of the oldest tricks in the book and it still works.

Appears ‘Yellow Hat’ didn’t want his visage photographed amongst the this crowd.

“Protesters tear a Japanese rising sun flag during a rally to celebrate the March First Independence Movement Day, the anniversary of the 1919 uprising against Japanese colonial rule, near the Japanese embassy in Seoul on Tues”.  Photo: AP/Ahn Young-joon -

"And to do so, Japan has to face history and be humble in front of history,"

It is South Korea that has to face history and be humble in front of history. Do not lie and stop fooling around

and apologize sincerely to Japan

Those centenarians are very young looking. Botox?

The last time I was in Seoul long long ago, the buses i noticed most frequently were those filled with security forces all kitted out in riot/war gear.

Looks like a choreographed play. Matching placards, buses to take them there and back

Lol, look more carefully at the photo. One of those matching buses clearly says "POLICE" in the big blue stripe. Yeah, buses to take them back to the cop shop.

As long as high level Japanese politicians continue to go to Yasukini their apologies are not worth anything.

buses to take them there and back…

The last time I was in Seoul long long ago, the buses i noticed most frequently were those filled with security forces all kitted out in riot/war gear. Cultures are man-made and most can evolve to fit changing circumstances. Like the world is seeing now.

Looking ay what's happing now in Europe and how soon things can get destructive and ugly, Japan and S.K better learn how to live and work together in the face of the new threats, or face the consequences of wars and destruction.

Moon, how about not going back on signed agreements that put everything to rest forever?

thepersoniamnowToday  07:20 am JST

Looks like a choreographed play. Matching placards, buses to take them there and back…

exactly!!!!!

Looks like a choreographed play. Matching placards, buses to take them there and back…

As a Korean, I am disgusted at Moon's hypocrisy. South Korea doesn’t care about mending ties, it only cares about victimizing itself and indoctrinating its children to hate Japan. Moon dissolved the comfort women fund that Japan started, and he threatened to pull out of GSOMIA and then lied about consulting the US about it.

This is the country where people set themselves on fire at protests, broke into the Japanese consulate, children drew pictures of Japan being nuked, gas stations refused to refuel Japanese cars, and a district tried to put stickers in classrooms saying “This device was made by a war criminal”. As a child, I grew up with my own parents constantly reminding me of what Japan did seventy years ago as if it happened yesterday.

Korea needs to stop blaming Japan when they're the ones worsening relations. The hypocrisy, self-victimization, and self-righteousness make me ashamed to be Korean.

Why do they keep bringing up this remorse apology stuff. It’s done all those criminals are in hell. You don’t see the USA keep being crybabies asking apologies from Japan or Germany and they sacrificed and suffered a lot more!