num_pages: 464
description: Although Korea and japan have lived through a number of painful episodes including war ans the period of colonial rule, they have been on good and friendly terms with each other for a considerable longer period of time. Nevertheless, under the current circumstances, such terms as confrontation, conflict, invasion, resistand, and distortion of historical facts, rather than peace, friendly relations and coexistence, quickly spring to mind when talking about the relations between the two countries. Throughout some two thousand years of bilateral relations, Koreans camte to acquire a sense of cultural superiority as resident of a country that had once transmitted valuable culture and knowledge to its neighor, gradually constructing an image of the Japanese as uncultured barbarians. By contrast, the Japanese - as people of a country that succeeded in making rapid progress in modern times - looked down on, and ultimately colonized, Korea. Indeed, many Japanese still think that they benefited Korea immensely by bringing Korea "the advantages of modern civilization," although they subjected the Korean people to the hardships and oppression of colonial rule. It is doubtful whether healthy and peaceful historical views can be established when a country aggressively pursues its own interest without ever considerin the situation of its neighboring countries. This book was compiled in an effort to bring an end to confrontational and negative historical views and to seek the establishment of friendly relationships with neighboring countries based on the principles of tolerance, understanding, forgiveness, repentance, consolation, reconciliation, and collaboration
language: German
title: The Foreseen and the Unforeseen in Historical Relations Between Korea and Japan
publisher: Northeast Asian History Foundation