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South Koreans seek new relationship with JapanBy Hyung-Jin Kim, AP January 11, 2009, 3:49 am TWN “I think it's better to get along with them and pursue exchanges,” said Oh, 26, who recently started offering a language exchange program for Korean and Japanese speakers in her Seoul cafe. With Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso arriving in Seoul on Sunday, many South Koreans, including President Lee Myung-bak, say it's time to look beyond the troubled past and build closer ties with Japan. People “say Korea and Japan are 'close yet distant countries' but we should be 'close and close' countries,” the Japan-born Lee told Aso during a private meeting on the sidelines of a first-ever three-way meeting with China's leader last month. “And Korea is ready to become so.” Lee has pledged not to seek a new apology from Japan for the use of forced labor and sex slaves during colonial rule. He also resumed top-level visits, which had been suspended since 2005 to protest former Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's repeated visits to a Tokyo war shrine. The past, however, has a way of bubbling up. Lee's overtures took a serious hit in July when Tokyo announced it would recommend that a government teaching manual include Japan's claim to uninhabited islets claimed by both countries. South Korea recalled its ambassador in Tokyo for three weeks and heightened security near the islets. Activists staged near-daily protests in front of the Japanese Embassy. Many scholars and newspaper editorials demanded Lee toughen policy on Japan. “Koreans view Japan's claim to (the islets) as its historic aggression,” said Jin Chang-soo, a Japan expert at South Korea's Sejong Institute, a policy think tank. On Tuesday, the dispute threatened to flare up again. Japan's Yomiuri newspaper reported that Tokyo planned to conduct a maritime research survey in waters between the two countries. The Japanese government denied the report, but South Korea still warned Tokyo against the plan amid media speculation that such a survey could include waters near the islets. Despite such hiccups, growing economic ties are bringing the two countries closer. The countries are major commercial partners, with two-way trade reaching US$82.6 billion in 2007. About 2.6 million South Koreans traveled to Japan in 2007, while 2.2 million Japanese visited South Korea. The global financial crisis has bolstered cooperation, with the two countries increasing a bilateral currency swap facility to about US$20 billion. Lee meets Aso on Monday, his sixth meeting with a Japanese leader since taking office 11 months ago. South Korean officials say the meeting will focus on economic cooperation and efforts to stop North Korea's nuclear program. The islets are not on the agenda. Among Koreans who still harbor strong resentment against Japan are those who were sex slaves for Japanese troops during World War II. Many feel that earlier apologies by Japanese leaders have been insincere and are demanding a fresh one. “They punched, kicked and beat me when I cried and refused to take off my clothes though I was only a 13-year-old girl at the time,” said 82-year-old Gil Won-ok. “We don't have many years to live. If we all die, to whom will Japan apologize?”
7 Comments March 3, 2010 hjh2201@ This is ridiculous. The actual victims have not yet forgiven Japan and what gives the President Lee the right to do so? Japan has not given a single sincere apology to these poor war victims. "If we all die, to whom will Japan apologize?" EXACTLY, she is making a point there. The president Lee should be the one urging the Japanese government to "apologize" for what they did in the past. It truly is outrageous. July 26, 2010 kahoo201@ hjh2201@ wrote: You are a liar. Japan has no reason to apologize.This is ridiculous. The actual victims have not yet forgiven Japan and what gives the President Lee the right to do so? Japan has not given a single sincere apology to these poor war victims. "If we all die, to whom will Japan apologize?" EXACTLY, she is making a point there. The president Lee should be the one urging the Japanese government to "apologize" for what they did in the past. It truly is outrageous. The comfort women were just prostitutes sold by their families. October 4, 2011 cksrufthsu@ To Kahoo201, if you really think that the Japanese government has no reason to apologize, then you must be Japanese or you have no idea about this issue or history. Yes, you have the right to say, but please think and learn before you speak about it. Imagine your sister and mother caught out by the Japanese soldiers without reason and no rights. April 19, 2012 reg-anime@ I am a half Japanese-Chinese. Firstly [all of you] who think that all Japanese should apologize are seriously f***** in the head. Blame the soldiers of the past and not the innocent descendants. Even if the government apologizes u bloody Koreans won’t accept the apologies. Also if u continue to bear such resentment u will never find peace in your lives, so f*** u. April 19, 2012 dannymagi@ korea@ wrote: weird...Korean people under control the now government. Korean people anything don't know about this article. Korean media is under government. control. I think only (about) 0.01% Korean knows this fact. We realize "1 person can make huge disaster"... Korea will close Japan. It's good thing. But this is wrong way to persuade Korean people. |
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Korean people anything don't know about this article.
Korean media is under government. control.
I think only (about) 0.01% Korean knows this fact.
We realize "1 person can make huge disaster"...
Korea will close Japan. It's good thing.
But this is wrong way to persuade Korean people.