Take this step forward

By Bernard Rowan

Last week's announcement of an agreement about the comfort women issue is a singular step forward in Korean-Japanese relations. It suggests the impulse of positive cooperation between two Asian and global powers. It marks practical thinking for the interests of both nations and peoples. It frames a genuine act of leadership, in particular by Japanese Prime Minister Abe but also President Park Geun-hye.

The agreement provides a fund for compensation to the comfort women and their families. It also states that the Korean side will stop making official criticism about the comfort women issue. The agreement came with formal apologies by Prime Minister Abe for the victimizing of comfort women.

This emotional issue, one of persistent importance to many, perhaps most, of the Korean people, had often seen regional, national and international coverage. It's significant that the Korean side will stop further official comments on the comfort women issue.

In Japan, the issue has been fodder for criticism of Korea and the Japanese government by right-wing and ultranationalist groups. In Korea, the comfort women and concerned human rights and other organizations have led the effort to keep the matter alive.

It's unlikely that all parties on the Korean or Japanese sides view this agreement with a sanguine feeling. Some of the comfort women and organized interest groups have denounced it or rejected its terms. Official apologies and compensation amount to "standard" means of responding to forms of gross injustice (not that they occur on any standard basis). It's understandable that these resolutions won't please the aggrieved and their supporters, perhaps not even on balance. The regrets have come late; the fund for compensation is small. Many comfort women have died. Issues of implementation and coverage will perhaps arise.

This agreement represents at best a partial victory for supporters of the comfort women. Other issues for the two nations demand attention. The comfort women issue symbolizes the past. Yesterday's enemy is not today's enemy. Korea and Japan are closer to allies than enemies ― but not friends. No one's trying to take comfort women these days. No one seriously could speak of war between Korea and Japan. The past shouldn't amount to a prison.

Historical evil is as old as civilization. Great philosophies point to a lasting problem about evil and politics ― and lasting possibilities. Few instances of kingdoms, empires, countries and nations have occurred without resort to the means of violence. How do we put this into perspective for the comfort women?

I think we can't fix many historical evils and any particular evil. A total fix wants forgiveness. This agreement isn't about forgiveness. The agreement calls both countries to transcend the evil. This agreement represents an effort to address evil and to transcend it.

Koreans and Japanese should ponder the value of transcending old wounds. Many other historical examples exist. I shouldn't put myself in the shoes of the comfort women. Their opinions and reactions demand respect.

I think President Park is no fan of Japanese imperialism or the Japanese state, if we want to speak in such ways. This agreement will count as one of her administration's achievements. Her leadership has placed two of the world's key powers for democracy and stability on a better road to the future.

Korea and Koreans will choose. No one has to accept this agreement. It's for the Korean people and her representatives to decide whether to accept this imperfect solution for the greater good and sense of justice of Korea. Japan must decide too. Now we'll wait to see whether the Korean and Japanese people do or don't accept. I've no vote, but it's high past time they do so, I think.

Bernard Rowan is associate provost for contract administration and professor of political science at Chicago State University, where he has served for 22 years. He is a past scholar of the Korea Foundation and former visiting professor at Hanyang University.

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