Japan and South Korea Should Look at the Big Picture toOvercome the Historical Problems
August 12, 2020
Yukio Hatoyama

Today, the new coronavirus infection has spread all over the world. The intensifying feud
between the United States and China is becoming the biggest threat to the stability of the world
since the US-Soviet conflict. Every day, I realize that we have entered a difficult time that wehave never experienced. At the same time, however, I am convinced that if Japan and South
Korea, which should be regarded as “solid middle power,” work together, we should be able toplay an important role in both the pandemic and the alleviation of the tension between the UnitedStates and China.
Unfortunately, however, the actual relationship between Japan and South Korea has beenheading in the opposite direction. The public notice issued by the Daegu District Court to seize
the assets of Japanese companies in South Korea in relation to the ruling on wartime forced labor
will come into effect on August 4. However, the ministers of the Japanese government have only
made remarks about imposing sanctions if South Korea converted the seized assets into cash.
The Korean government, on their part, has not even shown a willingness to solve this problem
through dialogue between Japan and South Korea. The type of attitude that thinks, "If wecompromise even a millimeter, we will lose," means that both sides have abandoned diplomacy.
If the both governments maintain the attitudes of "Japan First" and "Korea First," the JapanSouth Korea relation has no options but to head to the brink of destruction.
We must have a cool head. Today's Japan-Korea relation is not even a zero-sum game, let alone
a win-win. Since the ruling by the Supreme Court of South Korea, Japan has been imposing
some economic sanctions on South Korea in practical terms, and all South Korea has only
retaliated against them. In terms of the GDP per capita, Japan and South Korea are alreadysimilar, and the exchange of sanctions will not end with the victory of either country. It only has
negative effects on the economies of both countries. The termination of GSOMIA is alsomentioned occasionally. However, even if it causes a slight disadvantage to Japan, there isnothing that South Korea can benefit from it, other than letting off some steam. The world will
look at us with a sneer as they see Japan and South Korea clinging to the trap of nationalism at ahistorical time of significant thrust between the United States and China.

Japan's official position on the issue of wartime forced labor is that it has been resolved by the1965 Japan-ROK Agreement on the rights for compensation. Therefore, many Japanese weresurprised that the issue of wartime forced labor was brought to the court and felt that they werebetrayed at the decision of the Korean Supreme Court. On the other hand, in South Korea, it isbelieved that the rights of individuals to claim compensation will not be extinguished by aninternational treaty, and the trial went ahead. Regarding this matter, the Japanese government
once stated in the Diet session that “the individual claims themselves have not been extinguishedin terms of domestic law.” Besides, the majority of argument in the international human rights
law today is that “international agreements or treaties between nations cannot extinguishindividual rights for compensations.” Since we have reached this point, Prime Minister Shinzo
Abe should look at the big picture and state that he will not stick to Japan's conventional
position. Now that the Korean Supreme Court's decision has been finalized, it is easy to imagine
even for me that it will be difficult for the Korean government to have a fresh negotiation withJapan. However, I would also like President Moon Jae-in to make highly political decisions
based on the big picture.
Considering that there is serious emotional entanglement between Japan and South Korea, thetwo governments may agree to bring the matter to the International Court of Justice or resolve itin the form of arbitration through a third country. Once they decided to enter into a negotiation, it
is obvious that all the virtual sanctions currently in place should be lifted immediately.
I have made various statements, believing that Japan has a historical and moral responsibility forcolonizing South Korea. My belief remains the same today. However, it is also true that it has
been 75 years since the end of Japan's colonial rule, and a new generation is growing in both
Japan and South Korea. We should act prudently to avoid an act of folly that would worsen therelationship between Japan and South Korea and pass the worse situation on to next new
generations of both countries as another history. Japan and South Korea are equally responsiblefor that.

* This is an English translation of the article appeared on JoonAng Ilbo dated August 12, 2020.
【８・１５特別寄稿】日韓の指導者は大局観に立って歴史問題を乗り越えよ | Joongang Ilbo |中央日報 (joins.com)