Restart of Korea-Japan ties

By Choi Sung-jin

The relationship between South Korea and Japan is at its most strained in decades or, as some say, since the two countries normalized ties in 1965.

Unlike in the past, the more angered side seems to be Tokyo, not Seoul, this time around. Nothing shows this better than Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono's repeated diplomatic discourtesy. Kono rudely urged President Moon Jae-in to resolve the critical pending issue between the two countries before he visits Osaka, Japan, to attend the G20 summit meeting next month.

The straw that broke the camel's back regarding bilateral relations was the Korean Supreme Court's ruling about six months ago. Last November, the top court ordered Japanese companies to award up to 120 million won ($100,000) to each of a dozen Koreans forced to labor for the Japanese during colonial rule.

As the Japanese companies have refused to compensate them, the plaintiffs will soon enter into a process to seize these firms' assets in Korea. If that happens, Tokyo is threatening to retaliate with various measures, ranging from refusal to issue visas to slapping steep tariffs on Korean imports. Moreover, if the tit-for-tat escalates, the two countries could wage a large-scale trade war and some worry there might even be accidental military clashes.

The Korean top court's ruling means it believes the 1965 treaty to settle colonial-era issues does not terminate individuals' rights to claim damages. The Japanese government says this breaches the bilateral agreement and violates international law. Tokyo wants to take this case to international arbitration, and, eventually to the International Court of Justice (ICJ). If Seoul rejects the offer, there is no way to bring this to the ICJ, but Tokyo aims at attaining a propaganda effect that it is acting according to international norms.

Critics of President Moon, especially conservative opposition parties and media outlets, are calling for the South Korean leader and his government to act ― right away ― to prevent further aggravations from a bilateral relationship.

Prompting their calls were the Japanese media's reports that U.S. President Donald Trump, who had so far appeared to pay little attention to the frictions between America's two Northeast Asian allies, nudged Moon to improve ties with Japan, during their summit in April.

The news report may be right. Washington has always stepped in to mediate diplomatic disputes between Seoul and Tokyo whenever they got fierce enough to cause a setback in the U.S. strategy to contain its regional rivals of Russia or China. Trump is never ordinary as a U.S. president but might have found it difficult not to follow the traditional course.

The ongoing diplomatic row between the two Asian neighbors is unlikely to end easily or soon, however. Underneath the ostensible bickering are the deeper-rooted philosophies and strategies of the two leaders ― Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and President Moon.

Abe's ambition is to make Japan a “normal” country, diplomatically and militarily ― returning it to a pre-1945 situation. Abe and his political support base of ultra-rightists may think the only thing Japan did wrong was neither the military invasion nor the glaring abuses of human rights of foreigners but losing World War II. Also, they hate to see the economic and military emergence of China or Korea.

President Moon, in contrast, thinks most of the problems in this country originated from Japan's forced annexation of the Korean Peninsula and failure to clear away the remnants of Japanese colonialism ― former pro-Japan collaborators and their dictatorial descendants.

Abe and Moon will exit the political stage sooner or later and may be replaced by the advocates of compromise ― like former President Kim Dae-jung and former Premier Keizo Obuchi who opened an era of bilateral reconciliation and harmony. The chances, however, are there will be more Abes and Moons than Kims or Obuchis in the two countries unless Japan entirely gives up its ambition to restore its status as a military power without reflecting on its past or by justifying it.

All this shows this is time for Korea to consider restarting bilateral ties.

Korea should, of course, avoid confronting Japan on every issue. President Moon recently said the two countries could separate political ― i.e., historical ― issues from economic, or future, ones. The current Japanese attitude shows that the so-called two-track approach will not work, however. Tokyo wants Seoul's surrender in historical issues if it is to maintain economic ties with the larger and more advanced economic power.

True, Korea may have more to lose than to gain from head-on clashes with Japan. Some might recall the 1997-98 Asian currency crisis when Tokyo's refusal to roll over yen-denominated loans dealt a crippling blow to Seoul's efforts to stave off the looming fiasco.

That said, Korea's economy has grown enough not to be intimidated by Tokyo's threats. The nation needs to deal with Japan in a more fair and square manner on the international stage. It should be ready to meet Japan at the ICJ or even question the legitimacy of the 1965 regime, a typical unequal treaty by the coercion of the U.S.

Human rights and democracy appear to be two awkward phrases as a diplomatic slogan in today's world, increasingly festered by populists and extremists.

Nonetheless, Korea has few other ways to deal with and win over the brazen neighbor as well as grow to a small but influential country that is not easily swayed by surrounding powers. Conservatives in Seoul, Tokyo and Washington may not like it, but the last thing South Korea should do is to hold the hands of former colonialists to dominate its other half in the northern part of this peninsula.

To survive in this regional jungle and not repeat past tragedies, South Korea should first grow economically and realize a de facto same political unity with North Korea. That may be the only way to win at least the recognition ― if not the respect ― of the arrogant and unrepentant neighbor to its east.

Choi Sung-jin is a Korea Times columnist. Contact him at choisj1955@naver.com.