Reiwa era raises expectations over Japan ties

President Moon Jae-in walks down a hall in Cheong Wa Dae with new Korea ambassadors. / Yonhap

By Yi Whan-woo

The beginning of the Reiwa era in Japan is raising expectations in Korea for a turnaround in bilateral ties frayed by historical disputes, a military radar spat and the World Trade Organization's (WTO) recent ruling on Korea's ban on Japanese seafood.

Experts, however, remain cautious about the prospects, referring to the uncompromising attitudes of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and President Moon Jae-in on bilateral problems. Most of all, Abe's stance that bilateral issues stemming from Japan's colonial rule of Korea (1910-1945) were already settled through a 1965 diplomatic treaty will likely remain as a source of contention.

On May 1, President Moon sent a congratulatory letter to new Japanese Emperor Naruhito who ascended to the throne the same day.

Naruhito succeeded his father, now-Emperor Emeritus Akihito, and ushered in the new Reiwa era.

Moon's letter drew public attention because he addressed Naruhito as "emperor," not "king" as is used sometimes by Koreans.

The use of the latter term partly reflects Korean sentiment against the 1910-45 Japanese colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula and unsettled historical conflicts thereafter.

“President Moon extended congratulations to Emperor Naruhito on his ascension to the throne; and expressed hope that like Emperor Akihito, who has abdicated, Emperor Naruhito will continue to take firm steps for peace, while remembering the pains of war,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on its website.

When asked why Moon chose to use the term, emperor, Cheong Wa Dae spokeswoman Ko Min-jung said, “It is an international norm to address him so and other countries are believed to be doing the same.”

“I'd say Moon's choice was a reflection of his willingness to restore frayed ties with Korea on the occasion of the start of the new imperial era in Japan,” said Park Won-gon, an international relations professor at Handong Global University.

Nam Sang-koo, a researcher at the Northeast Asian History Foundation, agreed, saying, “The two countries should capitalize on the new imperial era as a new start of their relations.”

In his congratulatory letter, Moon conveyed hope that Emperor Naruhito will pay attention to and have affection for the amicable development of the bilateral relations.

During a May 2 luncheon with retired statesmen and stateswomen, Moon said, “Korea should have good relations with Japan for the development of security, the economy and other areas.”

Moon's Cabinet members congratulated Naruhito and addressed him as emperor, too.

In a message on Twitter, April 29, Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon wrote, “My thanks to (outgoing) Emperor Akihito who put an emphasis on Korea-Japan ties and also to soon-to-be Emperor Naruhito who spared his time with me for conversation during the World Water Forum in Brasil in March last year.”

“Let the leaders of the two countries make joint efforts for a new form of friendship and cooperation,” Lee added.

During a press meeting, May 2, Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha said the government will push for “development of a future-oriented relationship” with regard to Japan's new era.

Kang still noted Korea will “squarely” face history.

On top of dispute over “comfort women,” the forced labor of Koreans during Japan's colonial rule has emerged as another stumbling block after the Supreme Court's October 2018 ruling that Japanese companies that the victims worked for should compensate them.

On May 1, victims submitted a request to district courts demanding the authorities sell confiscated shares and patent rights of involved Japanese companies.

Abe's Cabinet vowed to take retaliatory action if Japanese companies here suffered substantial damages.

“This could lead to an international dispute unless a diplomatic breakthrough is sought and found,” Prof. Park said.

He suggested a summit between Moon and Abe on the sidelines of the scheduled G20 summit in Osaka, Japan, from June 28 to 29.

Minister Kang said the government is mulling whether to join the G20 summit and that it was “consulting with relevant parties” regarding Korea-Japan ties.

Park also suggested taking the issue of the forced labor ruling to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, the Netherlands.

“It normally takes four years for the ICJ to finalize a decision on a case, and it will give Korea and Japan time to catch their breath and find ways to settle the issue,” he said.