Often found at theaters and museums, Kwon Mee-yoo has covered a wide range of cultural fields from K-pop and dramas to theater and fine art for over a decade. Now as K-Culture Desk editor, she tries to connect Korean culture with global readers through fresh perspectives.
Korea, Japan intellectuals state 1910 Annexation Treaty invalid
By Kwon Mee-yoo
Staff reporter
A group of intellectuals in Korea and Japan issued a joint statement Monday, declaring the 1910 Korea-Japan Annexation Treaty "null and void."
This is the first time that scholars from the two countries have held a press conference to pronounce the invalidity of the annexation treaty.
One hundred and nine Korean and 105 Japanese intellectuals held press conferences in Seoul and Tokyo, respectively, to deliver their message.
"Japan's annexation of Korea was an imperialistic and illicit act using military power to overcome protests from Koreans," they wrote in a joint statement.
"The preamble and body of the treaty are all lies and there are serious flaws in its process and form. As the process of amalgamation is unjust, the annexation treaty is wrong."
The statement added the independence movement of Korea was not unlawful and supported the Korean government which interpreted the treaty as null and void.
"Based on the facts, the Korean interpretation of 'null and void' should be recognized as the consensus," the statement said.
They also called for an official joint statement from both countries.
The Koreans included professors emeritus Paik Nak-chung and Yi Tae-jin of Seoul National University, Yuhan University President Kim Young-ho, poets Ko Un and Kim Ji-ha, and lawyer Park Won-soon.
Among Japanese figures were Nobel Literature Laureate Kenzaburo Oe and emeritus professor at the University of Tokyo Wada Haruki.
The joint statement is the result of five months of study and negotiations ― the intellectuals had to compromise five times before a final draft was approved.
"There were arguments on minor terms and some Japanese scholars withdrew their support at the last minute," a representative of the Korean side said.
The two governments had different takes on the interpretation of the Korea-Japan Annexation Treaty. Under the 1965 Treaty on Basic Relations between Japan and Korea, any treaties or agreements concluded before Aug. 22, 1910 are already considered null and void.
Seoul said the annexation treaty was illegal and invalid as it was a result of Japanese imperialism. Tokyo, meanwhile, insisted it was freely signed.
In regard to comfort women, or sex slaves for Japanese soldiers during the World War II, they appealed for more enthusiastic attitude of the Japanese government, companies and people.
"The issue of comfort women is still ongoing and the Korean government has started to take measures for them and compulsorily mobilized laborers. We need support from Japan as well," they said.
By Kwon Mee-yoo
한일병합조약 무효선언
한국과 일본의 지식인들이 1910년 체결된 한일병합 조약은 "무효"라는 공동성명서를 월요일 동시에 발표했다.
양국의 학자들이 한일병합 조약이 무효라고 선언하는 기자회견을 연 것은 이번이 처음이다.
한국의 대표 지식인 109명과 일본의 지식인 105명이 각각 서울과 도쿄에서 기자회견을 열어 성명서를 발표했다.
"한국병합은 대한제국의 황제로부터 민중에 이르기까지 모든 사람의 격렬한 항의를 군대의 힘으로 짓누르고 실현한 제국주의 행위이며 불의부정한 행위다"라고 그들은 선언했다.
한국 측에서는 백낙청, 이태진 서울대 명예교수와 김영호 유한대 총장, 고은, 김지하 시인, 박원순 변호사 등이 성명서에 참여했다.