80th Liberation Day Korea-Japan economic relations: 80 years of competition, evolving partnership
After decades of hardship under Japanese colonial rule since 1910, Korea reclaimed its independence on Aug. 15, 1945. However, it was not until 20 years later that the two countries began a new chapter of diplomatic and economic engagement after signing the Treaty on Basic Relations in 1965. Since then, the economic relationship between Korea and Japan has gone through a significant transformation. It began with one-sided cooperation driven by government-led aid and technology transfer from Japan to Korea, laying the groundwork for Korea’s rapid industrialization. Building on this, the relationship shifted to a more balanced, competitive and two-way partnership, while political and historical disputes tested the arrangement along the way. However, despite the unresolved tension, their interdependence continues to anchor the two countries as they adapt to new challenges and priorities in a rapidly changing regional and global context. Learning and asymmetry to partnership Up to 1990, Korea focused on learning technology and industrial expertise from Japan, which, as Asia's advanced indust
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