Two neighbors should forge future-oriented partnership
One of the toughest diplomatic challenges facing South Korea is how to improve deteriorating relations with Japan. Regrettably Seoul-Tokyo ties have hit their worst level, more so since President Moon Jae-in took office in May 2017.
Currently the problem is that leaders of both countries are doing little to mend bilateral ties. They even appear to be fomenting animosity between each other's countries. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in particular prefers to take advantage of anti-Korean sentiment to consolidate his grip on power.
Against this backdrop, some experts express hope that the two will make efforts to bring their soured relationship back on track on the occasion of Emperor Akihito's abdication and Crown Prince Naruhito's accession to the throne. On Tuesday, Akihito formally stepped down in a palace ceremony handing over his emperorship to his son Naruhito.
Naruhito officially becomes the new emperor Wednesday when the new Reiwa era begins. Japanese harbor high expectations for the new era which means "beautiful harmony." Koreans are also hopeful both countries will settle old scores in order to end their diplomatic impasse and move toward friendship.
Yet such a hope cannot be translated into reality without strenuous efforts from both sides. First of all, upon entering the new era, Japan should change itself to face up to its shameful history squarely. It can never open a new era if it continues to refuse to admit to and apologize for past misdeeds it committed under colonialism and imperialism.
Koreans are keen to see what Naruhito will do down the road. Although he is a symbolic figure under the constitutional monarchy, he can have an influence over Japanese politics. So we expect Naruhito to play a positive role, if any, in helping bridge the gap between Korea and Japan.
More important, the Japanese government must make a more sincere and credible effort to reflect on its shameful past. Without any real change Japan can never reconcile with its former colony. However, the nationalist prime minister has been engrossed in reviving past militarism.
We cannot help expressing concern about the growing trend of Japan moving toward the right under Abe's leadership. He is trying to build up military power and turn Japan into a "normal" country capable of waging war by revising its postwar pacifist constitution.
For his part, President Moon should also make more efforts to have better ties with Tokyo. He seems to be paying little attention to Japan because he is too focused on improving inter-Korean ties and brokering denuclearization talks between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and U.S. President Donald Trump.
We call on Moon to hold a summit with Abe sooner than later to find a solution to a series of issues, including the wartime sex slavery and forced labor victims, and a naval radar dispute between the two countries.
Moon and Abe can use the G20 summit scheduled for late June in Osaka to have a one-on-one meeting to discuss how to address such pressing issues. We hope the two countries will leave their disgraced history behind and move toward harmony, amity and partnership.
One of the toughest diplomatic challenges facing South Korea is how to improve deteriorating relations with Japan. Regrettably Seoul-Tokyo ties have hit their worst level, more so since President Moon Jae-in took office in May 2017.
Currently the problem is that leaders of both countries are doing little to mend bilateral ties. They even appear to be fomenting animosity between each other's countries. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in particular prefers to take advantage of anti-Korean sentiment to consolidate his grip on power.
Against this backdrop, some experts express hope that the two will make efforts to bring their soured relationship back on track on the occasion of Emperor Akihito's abdication and Crown Prince Naruhito's accession to the throne. On Tuesday, Akihito formally stepped down in a palace ceremony handing over his emperorship to his son Naruhito.
Naruhito officially becomes the new emperor Wednesday when the new Reiwa era begins. Japanese harbor high expectations for the new era which means "beautiful harmony." Koreans are also hopeful both countries will settle old scores in order to end their diplomatic impasse and move toward friendship.
Yet such a hope cannot be translated into reality without strenuous efforts from both sides. First of all, upon entering the new era, Japan should change itself to face up to its shameful history squarely. It can never open a new era if it continues to refuse to admit to and apologize for past misdeeds it committed under colonialism and imperialism.
Koreans are keen to see what Naruhito will do down the road. Although he is a symbolic figure under the constitutional monarchy, he can have an influence over Japanese politics. So we expect Naruhito to play a positive role, if any, in helping bridge the gap between Korea and Japan.
More important, the Japanese government must make a more sincere and credible effort to reflect on its shameful past. Without any real change Japan can never reconcile with its former colony. However, the nationalist prime minister has been engrossed in reviving past militarism.
We cannot help expressing concern about the growing trend of Japan moving toward the right under Abe's leadership. He is trying to build up military power and turn Japan into a "normal" country capable of waging war by revising its postwar pacifist constitution.
For his part, President Moon should also make more efforts to have better ties with Tokyo. He seems to be paying little attention to Japan because he is too focused on improving inter-Korean ties and brokering denuclearization talks between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and U.S. President Donald Trump.
We call on Moon to hold a summit with Abe sooner than later to find a solution to a series of issues, including the wartime sex slavery and forced labor victims, and a naval radar dispute between the two countries.
Moon and Abe can use the G20 summit scheduled for late June in Osaka to have a one-on-one meeting to discuss how to address such pressing issues. We hope the two countries will leave their disgraced history behind and move toward harmony, amity and partnership.
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