Jason Lim is a Washington, D.C.-based expert on innovation, leadership and organizational culture.
East Sea vs. Sea of Japan
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By Jason Lim
I am a Northern Virginia resident who votes in local elections. And this column is not about local politics, but more of a question about the best ways that Korean-Americans can expand their footprint into mainstream local and national politics.
With the above disclosure, let me lay out several things that I believe.
One, I believe that Dokdo is and should be Korean territory.
Two, I believe that the Sea of Japan should be renamed the East Sea. If not a total replacement, East Sea should be used in parallel with Sea of Japan on all official maps.
Three, I believe that Japan has never truly apologized in both words and spirit, and should engage in a transparent and inclusive way with neighboring countries and people who were victimized by imperial Japan’s aggression in the first half of the 20th century. It should ask for forgiveness for the suffering and rebuild the relationships on a foundation of mutual respect and recognition.
Four, I believe that the Japanese people were the biggest victims of imperial Japan’s aggression, undergoing unspeakable suffering and sacrifice in the name of the empire, while being the only people on whom nuclear bombs were dropped. Japan should teach a fact-based, balanced narrative of its history by not whitewashing its aggression and emphasizing only the victim narrative.
Five, I abhor that Prime Minister Abe is even considering rescinding the Kono Statement that admits official culpability by the Japanese Government in the systemic sexual slavery run by imperial Japan’s military during World War II. And stop visiting the Yasukuni Shrine, already.
Six, I believe that today’s Japan is not the Japan of 100 years ago, and has proven that it is a great nation with incredibly resourceful people who have the capacity and knowledge to contribute greatly to the wellbeing of the region and the world.
Seven, I believe that Japan, as a vibrant democracy, is a proven, stalwart ally of the U.S. and a natural ally of South Korea in almost all matters of national security and economic interests.
I believe all of the above passionately, not out of some vindictive agenda against Japan but as a global citizen who believes that the specter of the past is haunting the future of East Asia because Japan refuses to engage in an honest conversation about what happened. It is sabotaging its own achievements and potential, and creating a very destructive energy with which its children will have to deal.
Having said that, I am not sure why the Korean-American community is driving the Virginia House of Delegates and governor to pass legislation that mandates all new Virginia school textbooks note that the Sea of Japan is also known as the East Sea.
My confusion stems from the question: How is this a Korean-American issue? I understand that it’s a Korean issue, but is it a Korean-American issue to be won or lost in the Virginia legislature?
Don’t misunderstand me. I am not arguing against the validity of the issue, but I am confused about the appropriateness of the venue. If Korean-Americans want to flex our political muscles and increase our civic engagement in local politics, should the nexus be something that’s more germane to Korean-Americans?
As a voting Korean-American, I would rather my representatives speak up for Fairfax school teachers, or increase early Korean literacy programs for preschool children, not wade into an international issue that’s better dealt with in international forums.
Some might say that this effort is similar to the passage of the Comfort Women Resolution (H.R. 121) in 2007 or the Korean War Veterans Recognition Act (U.S. Public Law 111-41). But I say not.
The Comfort Women Resolution was about highlighting an egregious violation of women’s rights that occurs when a country condones a systemic coercion and rape of women in war time. It was about Darfur and Srebrenica, not Korea vs. Japan.
More accurately, it was about remembering that American values drive us to support universal human rights for all, even in times of war.
Likewise, the Korean War Veterans Recognition Act was about giving official recognition to the sacrifice of American veterans of the Korean War, without which today’s Korean-American community wouldn’t exist.
In other words, these efforts were about Korean-Americans engaging on issues that touched us as Americans through venues that most effectively highlighted our passions. I am not saying that Korean-Americans shouldn’t engage in the Sea of Japan vs. East Sea issue. But engage the issue through venues that have been designed to deal with issues such as these. I don’t know if the local legislature and local school textbooks are entirely appropriate. Efforts such as these shouldn’t resemble guerrilla marketing.
On a positive note, this effort shows that the Korean-American community has the political savvy to leverage its political influence and strategic planning to see its pet issues through the local political process. If only the issues were more Korean-American issues rather than Korean issues.
Jason Lim is a Washington, D.C.-based expert on innovation, leadership and organizational culture. He has been writing for The Korea Times since 2006. He can be reached at jasonlim@msn.com, facebook.com/jasonlimkoreatimes and @jasonlim2012.