Do Je-hae edits news stories as part of the AI team.
YouTube video promotes Japan's role in Asian growth
POSCO, one of the world’s largest steelmakers, appears in a Japanese foreign ministry video as an outcome of Japan’s postwar official development assistance across Asia. / Captured from YouTube
By Do Je-hae
By Do Je-hae
Japan is promoting itself as a key contributor to Asia’s post-war leap through an online video.
In the latest addition to the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ promotional videos, Japan lists several historic economic ventures _ including POSCO _ as outcomes of its aid package to Asian nations after World War II. POSCO, situated in the southern industrial hub of Pohang, has established itself as one of the world’s largest steelmakers since its founding in 1968 during the Park Chung-hee administration. For many Koreans, the multi-national company is one of the symbols of the nation’s post-Korean War (1950-1953) economic rise.
The video, recorded in several languages including Korean, has been posted on the ministry’s website and YouTube, and has aired on CNN under the title “National Building in the Post War Era: Japan as a Reliable Partner” since March 5. They are also accessible on websites of Japanese embassies in some countries, including Korea and the United States.
Japan stresses that it “laid the foundation for Asia's economic growth” through ODA (Official Development Assistance) for infrastructure development in many countries.
The video underlines its role as a “partner” in re-building Asia after World War II, with messages such as “Japan rebuilt its own economy after the end of the war, and began creating peace and prosperity in Asia, and contributing to international nation-building initiatives.”
“With the 1951 San Francisco Peace Treaty, Japan returned to the international community, and in 1954, started providing economic assistance to Asian countries.”
As examples of the aid, the videos shows footages of Myanmar’s Baluchaung Hydropower Plant; Indonesia’s Saguling Hydropower Plant; Cambodia’s water supply system; Indonesia’s Gresik Steam Power Plant; China’s Beijing-Qinhuangdao railway link and Thailand’s Eastern Seaboard development. In addition to these are several Korean facilities such Seoul Subway Line 1, the Soyang River Dam and POSCO.
The second half of the two-minute video is about Japan's peace-making efforts in Asia, such as its role in the Afghanistan reconstruction through healthcare and education aid since 2002.
Promotional videos are a routine activity for any foreign ministry. Korea's foreign ministry's website also carries promotional videos about its widening role in the global community in several languages, although the videos weren't readily accessible Wednesday.
The Japanese government’s latest self-promotion on YouTube has generated some negative press here, coming at a time when Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe faces growing criticism from Korea for attempting to whitewash his country's wartime atrocities.
Some Korean media reports have criticized that while the video promotes its contributions for Asian growth, it contains no message of apology for its wartime atrocities across the continent.
Korea is keeping its eye on how Abe will approach Japan’s militaristic past during his April 26 to May 2 U.S. visit as well as in an address he will deliver in August on the occasion of the 70th year since the end of World War II.
The video concludes with an English message from Abe: "Japan is resolved to continue to take on greater responsibility, walking hand in hand with the international community."
Japan has a history of doing well with promotional videos. A few years ago, it produced a series of eye-catching videos for YouTube and CNN about its agricultural assets, such as rice and Wagu beef.