Participants jubilant at anniversary receptions

By Do Je-hae

The diplomatic events in Seoul and Tokyo celebrating the 50th anniversary of bilateral relations were marked by the jubilant mood of hundreds of guests.

President Park Geun-hye’s presence at a reception hosted by the Japanese Embassy was received warmly by Japanese Ambassador Koro Bessho, who said “Madam President, we would like to deliver our heartfelt thanks,” in Korean.

Park sat with Rep. Suh Chung-won of the Saenuri Party, who leads an association of Korea-Japan lawmakers.

The reception, held at the Westin Chosun in Seoul, brought back some sentimental recollections of the 1965 Korea-Japan Normalization Treaty.

The Japanese Ambassador introduced one of the two folding screens that had been used during the exchange of the ratification of the pact 50 years ago. After the ratification, one was donated to the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, another to the Korean Embassy in Tokyo.

The reception was filled with banners that contained the logo and slogan “Let's open a new future together” for the 50th anniversary of bilateral relations. Park smiled when the ambassador pronounced the slogan in Korean.

Her speech focused on building friendship and trust between the peoples of the two countries, while working toward a future-oriented relationship.

Through a message read by Fukushiro Nukaga, head of the Japan-Korea Parliamentarians Union, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe underlined the special connection he has with the 1965 treaty. “My maternal grandfather and great-uncle were both closely involved in the normalization of Korea-Japan relations, As Prime Minister; I am deeply moved by the landmark occasion for our two countries.”

Nukaga, a special envoy of Abe, was recently in Korea to participate in a football friendly hosted by the National Assembly.

He underlined the fields of culture and sports as areas of bilateral cooperation to bring the two countries closer. "In 2018, the PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games will be held. In 2020, Tokyo will hold the summer Games. Korea and Japan can build a future of peace and mutual prosperity through sports exchanges."

More than 1,000 guests, including Prime Minister Abe and Caroline Kennedy, U.S. Ambassador to Japan, participated in corresponding event at a Tokyo hotel hosted by the Korean Embassy.

Abe delayed a scheduled event at parliament to attend, underlining the importance of Korea-Japan relations.