politics

Not friends yet as Japan, S Korea mark 50-year treaty

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By MARI YAMAGUCHI

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“Trust between Japan and South Korea has been largely lost, and it’s not easy to restore it right away,”

Could this be partly due to the media on both sides milking it for self gain?

5 ( +5 / -1 )

This article is so biased, like it often happens with articles about this topic. Everything is pro-Korean, and it seems that Japan has always been, and continues to be only a "bully" towards this country. No. After WWII, Japan invested tons of money in South Korea, China and the other "Asian Tigers". These are simple facts that I studied also in the middle school (in Italy, not in Japan). Japan contributed to the development of East Asia very, very much. Also during the Asian financial crisis in the late 90s, Japan made a lot to save S.Korea and other countries. All the Asian Tigers (included S. Korea) adopted Japanese model of growth, and their own pop culture was modeled on Japan's one, indeed, even though Japanese cultural products were banned in South Korea, young people got them anyway illegally, for this reason you can find Korean comics that are clones of Japanese comics. But you NEVER see these informations about how much Japan contributed to S.Korea economic and cultural development after WWII in these articles. You only see: Japan colonized S. Korea, and now it denies its aggression, while S. Korea is a successful and peaceful country that conquered Japan by pop culture, but never got any advantage from Japan after WWII, that is a big FAT lie, because it was treated from Japan like all the other Asian Tigers, getting tons of investments. So modern S. Korea has been heavily influenced by modern Japan more than vice versa, but these articles never admit such kind of facts. They speak about right-wingers in Japan who hate Korea, but never say that similar people there are also in S. Korea. I also saw a short Anti - Japanese S.Korean cartoon shown in S. Korea theaters before the actual movies, and anti - Japanese drawings made by S. Korean children in S. Korean subways. So...if you want to tell hystory, please, tell ALL THE SIDES of hystory, not only Japanese colonization, revisionism and Korean wave in Japan during the 2000s. Thanks.

6 ( +10 / -4 )

This is such a waste, both China & SKorea have been acting like jerks a lot of the time, but overall Japan is the REAL putz in all this.

If japan would just be honest with its history all this BS would end or a t least neither China or SKorea would have a case!

The sad sad thing is BOTH China & SKorea have valid claims(in a historical sense, not in the $$$ sense) & its stupefying to see so many Japanese cant see that.

But hey its Japans loss, Japan could change all this but FOOLISH "PRIDE" is in the way & the fact that so little of the truth has been taught for 7decades & you end up with a country of people who have little idea what really went down

-5 ( +3 / -8 )

Koreans did too much Japan bashing for 7 decades without realizing how much they are hurting the Japanese people's feelings everyday. I think it is too late now.

-4 ( +3 / -7 )

I mean, if S. Koreans don't know facts like this, for example:

"Of the total direct investment in South Korea from 1962 to 1986, which amounted to US$3.631 billion, Japan accounted for 52.2 percent and the United States for 29.6 percent. In 1987 Japan invested US$494 million, or 47 percent of the total foreign investment of US$1.1 billion. Japan invested mainly in hotels and tourism, followed by the electric and electronics sector."

source: http://www.country-data.com/cgi-bin/query/r-12334.html

and they think that Japan never contributed positively to the development of their country after WWII, how can they forgive? In other countries like Taiwan, Singapore, Philippines, people seem more aware about the big role of Japan in their economic development, and probably for this reason they've already forgiven Japan.These articles seem give more importance to K-pop popularity in Japan than to the fact that Japan has always played a huge role in S.Korea development, it's almost hilarious! They seem written by a little girl in love with some K-pop band, seriously...

1 ( +4 / -3 )

@Alex80

If that is the case, why don't we see German Chancellor Merkel and 150+ top German government representitives visiting Nazi Cemetary? They had similar results from the war, but why is there such a difference in behavior of German politicians compare to Japanese politicians?

These Japanese politicians who insist that they are only paying tribute to those who died for their country when they visit Yasukuni are not telling the truth. If that’s all they wanted to do, they could walk five minutes down to Chidorigafuchi National Cemetery. Emperor Hirohito stopped visiting Yasukuni after 1978 because the shrine had been tainted by the presence of the Class A war criminals. His son, current Emperor Akihito, has maintained the imperial embargo on visits. Yasukuni is not about dignified homage, it is about scoring political points and drawing attention to revisionist history. The only thing that Japan’s modern reactionaries regret about the war is defeat, and they are still fighting an uphill battle against Japanese public opinion to justify wartime Japan’s “noble mission.” No amount of sanitizing will change that. The only way to end the controversy is to impose a moratorium on visits to Yasukuni by any serving Cabinet minister. If Abe is truly looking for a new beginning for Japan’s relations with its neighbors, that’s where he should start.

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

If japan would just be honest with its history

Japan was honest with the history. South Korea was the one not honest. SK forced its lie into Kono statement. I know you don't believe so the Japanese people became just quiet.

-7 ( +3 / -10 )

@sfjp330: your post has nothing to do with my posts. Explaining Japanese revisionism causes wasn't the content of my posts. They are very complex, and it's usless to compare Japan to Germany, also because China and Korea are not France or Italy. I was wondering why these articles always forget to say how Japan contributed to S.Korea development after WWII, while they seem to consider so "important" K-drama popularity in Japan.

Japanese money were welcome to S.Korea, and played a huge role in its economic development, but how many S. Koreans will admit it?

Always from this article http://www.country-data.com/cgi-bin/query/r-12334.html

There was a dramatic rise in foreign investment in the late 1980s. Approvals of foreign equity investments reached an all- time high of US$1.283 billion in 1988, a 21 percent increase over 1987. As in previous years, approvals for Japanese investments were the dominant factor; they totaled US$696 million (up 41 percent from 1987), followed by United States investors with US$284 million (up 11 percent), and West European sources, US$240 million (up 14 percent). Investment approvals in the service sector doubled in 1988 to US$561 million, which included two large Japanese hotel projects totaling US$344 million. Investment approvals in the manufacturing sector, however, declined from US$775 million in 1987 to US$710 million in 1988.

Please, read this sentence more times:

As in previous years, approvals for Japanese investments were the dominant factor; they totaled US$696 million (up 41 percent from 1987), followed by United States investors with US$284 million (up 11 percent), and West European sources, US$240 million (up 14 percent)

I guess while S. Korean government was approving record Japanese investments in S. Korea, it didn't care about Japanese revisionism very much, uh? Nothing is worse than hypocrisy.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

@Alex80

Japan’s direct compensation payments both to war victims and their heirs have totaled only $1 billion. This contrasts remarkably with Germany’s record. The compensation figures from a decade ago, Germany’s payments to victims and their heirs had exceeded $70 billion. The contrast is all the more remarkable for the fact that Imperial Japan’s victims outnumbered those of the Nazis by at least three to one. The truth is that most of Japan’s victims, including millions in China, have not received a penny. And in the small minority of cases in which compensation has been paid, the sums have been laughable.

In a wording and verbal openings on diplomatic meets, Japanese officials delivered apologies, but there were never formal documentation of apology with promises to fix their mistakes by taking such actions and such. The Japanese apologies were always vague and lacked details, other than saying sorry and we'll never do it. In meantime in Japan, over 150 Japanese politicians worship their old war criminals as gods and glorify the old days by adding easily accepted forms such as textbooks, popular magazine and newspaper articles and suggesting Japanese legitimacy on their position in WWII. Then someday, we'll come across generation of Japanese population that really believes that their course of action in WWII was the right thing and wanting retribution. With Abe's administration Japan things really started to look that way.

The young Japanese students are clueless of Japan's relations with the outside world. They are taught too late. Young Japanese people often fail to understand why neighboring countries harbor a grudge over events that happened in 1931-45. The reason, in many cases, is that by the time they reach high school, they barely learned any 20th century history. Many young Japanese got a full picture when they left Japan and went to school in foreign countries. It's hardly surprising that some classes, in some schools, never get there, and are told by teachers to finish the book in their spare time. Many young people in Japan really don't understand the Japan's war history and making the point that many of today's geopolitical tensions stem from what happened then. In Japanese textbook, only a footnote on the Nanjing massacre. Why they couldn't go straight to that period if it was so important, instead of wasting time on the other subject. When students did finally get there, it turned out only few pages dealt with events between 1931-45. Reading many factual books on the incident at least allowed them to understand why many people in China still feel bitter about Japan's military past.

J

-6 ( +2 / -8 )

@sfjp330: I wasn't speaking about war compensation (and I don't know if your numbers are correct, either).Anyway, I wasn't speaking about revisionism and war. Why are you changing completely topic?

I'm not denying Japanese revisionism, but probably you want to deny Japanese huge role in S. Korea economic development, often forgotten in these articles. This is the whole point of my earlier posts.

It's becoming funny.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Who cares what Korea thinks. If it were not for Japan and America, Korea would still be a totally backwards place just not in the country as it is now, but also in their bigger cities.

-2 ( +4 / -6 )

Who cares what Korea thinks.

Most Koreans probably think they got a lot of money only from the US, but the truth is that Japan has been the biggest investor in S.Korea for many years after WWII. Also during the occupation, Japan started to develop S.Korea. This doesn't mean Japanese aggression was right, or it wasn't brutal. But you have to tell all the sides of hystory.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

@Alex80

Japan does have a very ugly historical legacy regarding invasion, empire, and the brutal exploitation of other Asian countries and peoples. The Japanese government could probably also be more honest about that history (and would do well to take some cues from post-1945 Germany). Japan did practice cultural genocide in Korea, among other significant crimes against humanity.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

@sfjp330: okay, you are speaking to yourself...

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

If that is the case, why don't we see German Chancellor Merkel and 150+ top German government representitives visiting Nazi Cemetary?

Well technically most if not all cemeteries for German WWII dead would be for "Nazis", as the majority of German soldiers joined the Nazi party.

What I think you mean is a cemetery devoted to top German war criminals. There are no such places that I'm aware of in Germany. But then again, I'm not aware of any cemetery or shrine in Japan that is purely made up of Japanese war criminals. Yasukuni, whilst having a controverisal museum and a number of high-profile war criminals, is devoted to millions of ordinary soldiers.

So I'm not sure where your comparison is going,

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

I sometimes wonder what is the editorial policy of JAPANTODAY and who funds this site.

I get the impression most of these crap articles are written in a way to instigate nationalistic feelings in Japanese people, so they can accept more easily new Abe's and US political agenda for Japan. Japanese people have to know their country is great how it is now, a peaceful country that after WWII made a lot for helping Asian countries, despite some idiotic revisionism by some leaders.

Moderator: If you feel the articles are crap, then perhaps you should find another news site. As always, your comments add nothing to the discussion.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Abe and the LDP have made a few overtures to Park Geun-hye to resume diplomatic discourse, but Park in her immense short sightedness and naivety as a politician continues to set 'preconditions' to begin dialogue. That is not how diplomacy works, she is a fool. And no, there is no need to beg for forgiveness, apologies have been made, end of story - the Korean administration however will continue to create and milk anti-Japanese sentiment for all it's political worth for as long as it can, awful domestic politics, the country is run by immature utter lunatics. Get over it.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

As for the freedom of speech, you can criticize Japan or US or China, but you cannot criticize Korea.

My impression is that you can criticize Japan and China as much as you want, while you can criticize US and Korea only to some extent. Mod, I don't think all the articles are bad, I said most of this kind of articles (Japan vs Korea vs China) seem made to instigate nationalistic feelings in Japanese people. Your reaction, saying my comments are always useless, basically, let me shocked.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

My impression is that you can criticize Japan and China as much as you want, while you can criticize US and Korea only to some extent.

Right, especially in Japan's TV programs like NHK, criticizing Korea is a big no-no

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

I still think Korea should get over it. And, when people say the Japanese were brutal, I disagree. Have you ever been to Taiwan and talked to the old people? They loved the Japanese. So it does not make sense to me that the Japanese were so called brutal in these other countries. I disagree and say that is propaganda.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Disappointed that Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and South Korean President Park cannot reach common ground. The 93 Kono statement is an equivocal heartfelt apology. Abe San could get behind this on a more diplomatic level beyond 'uphold'.

President Park could move to a formal summit. It's the rock meets the hard place. And the media afford a undeserved platform for extreme right views that do not mirror public opinion.

Please let hear all views on JT. We are all grow ups yes.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

To all Korean people here: I never denied Japanese revisionism, but it's a complex historical problem, often oversimplified by the press. My main complaint with this article it's like it showed only three aspects in Korea/Japan relations: Japanese brutal colonization, Japanese historical revisionism, and Korean wave in Japan. Nothing was said about how much Japan contributed to the Korean economic development, like if Japan had always been only on the wrong side. Plus, it disregards the fact Korean nationalists are bad as much as Japanese nationalists (also politicians). It would be also very interesting, sometimes, to see deeper analyses about why countries like Philippines, where Japanese occupation was even harsher than in S. Korea, now are great allied with Japan, unlike S.Korea. For this I believe articles like this can instigate nationalistic feelings in Japanese people. A more balanced view of the things would be necessary. Just my humble opinion, and I hope (and think) it adds something to the discussion, more than the usual "Japan denies history! Their colonialism was brutal!" Most of people know it, it's your daily news also after 70 years the war is over.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

sfjp330:

If soldiers and US agents who tortured detainees are buried in Arlington National Cemetery, should US president and other top govt officials still visit? BTW the above example is a Class B War Crime.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

If you want to understand how Japan's contribution had influenced SK economy after the war, simply compare it with NK. The very simple difference between the two are how much money that was infused.

It's a parallel comparison with 1910 when Japan had annexed the Korean Peninsula and brought the region out of the most poverty stricken backward location within Asia of it's time.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

I mean, if S. Koreans don't know facts like this, for example:

"Of the total direct investment in South Korea from 1962 to 1986, which amounted to US$3.631

And which Japan got rewarded handsomely over that period. There used to be an old saying in Korea, what Korea earned through exports, they were given all right back to Japan.

If you really think Japan invested in Korea to help Koreans, then you're really naive.

Countries invest in other countries for economic reasons. When S. Korea was economically weak, and it was no threat to Japan, Japan could afford apathy and even claim fake friendship while still holding smug feeling of superiority.

But S.Korea increasingly became a serious competitive threat to Japanese domination in Asia, that's when the real feelings come out, as this article mentions.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Also a right wing newspaper like The Korea Times admits that S. Korea needs Japan's support for the unification with the North, specially in financial terms:

'Support from Japan crucial for unification'

https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2015/06/116_181309.html

So, honestly...which is the point to be so stuck in the past, when you have bigger changes in the next future?

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Also a right wing newspaper like The Korea Times admits that S. Korea needs Japan's support

And I say those experts are wrong. If the reunification of Korea's come, Japan's investments will flow in naturally because Japan will not just sit by as other countries like the US, China, Russia, EU, all rush into Korea. North Korea's abundant natural resources combined with South Korea's, and other countrie's abundant capital and technology will mean opportunities that can't be ignored. It is Japan who should worry that they will be shut out of Korea, if the relations with Korea deteriorate. A united Korea will also have a land bridge where Korea could ship all their goods to Europe, through rail or roads, instead of on expensive ships. Japan would need Korea to agree to link the two countries by rail and road, with an underwater chunnel, so that Japanese exporters don't lose their competitiveness against their Korean competitors.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

Both South Korea and China settled all issues in 1965 and 1972 respectively. While one might excuse China's denial of reality ecause they are a dictatorship, there is no excuse for South Korea. Let them get o verrun by North Korea. At least they're honest. Why does the United States have to defend a country that sides with China and obstructs our strategic alliances?

0 ( +4 / -4 )

If you really think Japan invested in Korea to help Koreans, then you're really naive.

And you are naive if you think this:

There used to be an old saying in Korea, what Korea earned through exports, they were given all right back to Japan.

Foreign investments are a win-win situation. Good both for the investor country and for the country that gets the money.

But S.Korea increasingly became a serious competitive threat to Japanese domination in Asia, that's when the real feelings come out, as this article mentions.

But Japan continued to invest tons of money in your country, despite what this article says in this part:

Economic relations are still generally strong, although Japanese tourist arrivals and direct investment in South Korea have declined since 2012, while those from South Korea have remained relatively stable.

The truth is another one (about 2014):

China, Japan investment in S. Korea top record last year

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/biz/2015/02/488_173696.html

Another source:

http://www.korea.net/NewsFocus/Policies/view?articleId=124506

Japan has been the biggest investor in S. Korea, only behind the US, and 2014 was a record year. And do you really think that S.Korea doesn't want Japanese money?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

and 2014 was a record year.

Since SK financial watchdog first began collecting such data in 2009 (ergo, year 2012 is included). So, where is the decline since 2012, like this article says? In 2012 Japan was the biggest investor in South Korea

https://en.santandertrade.com/establish-overseas/south-korea/foreign-investment

but the fact that in 2014 it was in the second place, behind the US, doesn't mean the investments are declined since 2012.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Foreign investments are a win-win situation. Good both for the investor country and for the country that gets the money.

That's what I'm saying. But Japan is using the foreign investment as if it's economic aid to Korea, as if Japan sacrificed to help Korea, which is furthest from the truth. Look at the Japanese foreign ministry's web page and Youtube video propagandas, what an absolute disgrace. South Korean experts estimate that from 1965 to current, Japan's economic gain amounts with South Korea to be approximately $3 trillion in trade surpluses and account surpluses through investment incomes in today's dollar value. So do Koreans demand Japanese be thankful for this fact, as Japanese are demanding of Koreans? Doesn't that make your Japan investment into Korea argument, silly?

But Japan continued to invest tons of money in your country, despite what this article says in this part, And do you really think that S.Korea doesn't want Japanese money?

I'm half Korean and half white, but Korea is not my country. $2 billion in Japanese FDI last year is peanuts. Again, it's investment, not economic aid - a clear distinction which you fails to grasp. And it is Japan who is responsible for the poor relations. I agree completely with these parts of the news article:

The poll also found that 87% of South Koreans feel strongly about better relations with their neighbor, compared to 64% in Japan.

As public sentiment soured, ethnic Koreans in Japan, many of whom descendants of forced laborers, became target of racial insults by right-wing extremists.

Anti-Korean books and magazines have become bookstore staples, while Korean pop idols who once dominated Japanese TV shows have largely disappeared, and many shops in downtown Tokyo once known as Korea Town closed down.

Nishino said the deterioration in relations could also be traced to South Korea’s rising economic clout and international profile that has touched the nerve of many Japanese, who have lost confidence in their own leadership amid economic slump and political disarray.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

That's what I'm saying.

No, you said:

There used to be an old saying in Korea, what Korea earned through exports, they were given all right back to Japan.

Implying it's a good business only for Japan.

South Korean experts estimate that from 1965 to current, Japan's economic gain amounts with South Korea to be approximately $3 trillion in trade surpluses and account surpluses through investment incomes in today's dollar value. So do Koreans demand Japanese be thankful for this fact, as Japanese are demanding of Koreans? Doesn't that make your Japan investment into Korea argument, silly?

So, South Korean experts see only the good side for Japan? If it is so bad for S.Korea business, why do your government accept this money? Don't you think this "Japanese are envious of Koreans" argument is really childish?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

No, that's when SK intensified Japan bashing maybe because they decided they don't need Japan any more.

Furthest from the truth. In the 2010's Japan bashing in Korea didn't intensify, only in the minds of Zaitokukai's and right wing Japanese nationalists and right wing media which used sensationalism and fabrications to take advantage of increasing feeling of insecurity in Japan. If anything, Koreans were turning more apathy, if not even sympathetic towards Japan.

They never once said ”Thank you” to Japan for 7 decads.

Did Japan at least once, say "thank you" to Korea for 7 decades of profit from Korea? No.

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

If anything, Koreans were turning more apathy, if not even sympathetic towards Japan.

Typical sentence of nationalistic people who deny to be nationalistic. Japanese nationalists: "We don't care about Korea". Korean nnationalists: "We don't care about Japan".

Meh...

0 ( +2 / -2 )

" Not yet friends....." Japanese have no ability to be just plain friends with anyone. They are ever on the prowl,sniffing,snooping, poking,prodding and nudging for any individual or structural weaknesses , when they do find one, they viciously exploit it. We talk a lot about Japanese compensating this one and that one, but Japan has no REAL intentions of parting with any considerable amount of "compensation", they'd rather give pennies to the warlords,elites and whoever, preferable under the table, more so, if you bear in mind that the very reason of their abomination in Asia was to pillage and plunder and make Asia their own wild-west. Do it as much as possible in the briefest span they could. They were just dirt-poor. @Sunrise777. There can NEVER be any good or altruism one can do to a people you have humiliated, stolen their dignity and subjugate. They live knowing who the master is,for their very spirit you have killed or stolen already. Stop the rationalization and justifications. Japanese went to Kprea to do what all other colonialists do,only that Japan was late, dirt-poor and resource-less, especially in land, which had been appropriated by the merciless and vicious landed-gentry of the then Japan .

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Implying it's a good business only for Japan.

It is Japan that is claiming only good business for Korea, and that Japan sacrificed itself for Korea, demanding "thanks" from Koreans - a total bogus argument. As I mentioned, please go have a look at Japanese government foreign ministry's web site. Laughable propaganda. On the other hand, Korea does not use that argument, because it recognizes that it's just business amongst trade partners, it has nothing to do with being thankful for welfare - something that Japan doesn't seem to understand.

Koreans are just saying "forced laborers", but no evidence. They really like victim cards

Japan used many forced laborers, not just Koreans, but also Chinese and allied POW's. Deny all you want, it won't change the truth.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

@Papi: I don't see Japanese politicians demanding "thanks" from Koreans officially everyday, but I see Korean politicians demanding apologies from Japanese officially everyday, for something that was already settled in 1965 Korea-Japan normalization treaty.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

It is Japan that is claiming only good business for Korea, and that Japan sacrificed itself for Korea, demanding "thanks" from Koreans - a total bogus argument. As I mentioned, please go have a look at Japanese government foreign ministry's web site. Laughable propaganda. On the other hand, Korea does not use that argument, because it recognizes that it's just business amongst trade partners, it has nothing to do with being thankful for welfare - something that Japan doesn't seem to understand.

A typical SK response not once contemplating what would have happened if Japan left Koreans out to dry. As I said before it's the same old response Koreans just like what the ones made in 1910 after Japan had annexed Koreans virtually providing everything.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Did Japan at least once, say "thank you" to Korea for 7 decades of profit from Korea? No.

What profit? Trade? Trade is different from the technical and financial assitance Japan gave SK. By the trade SK imported Japan's parts, from which SK are producing their products to sell all over the world.

Japan used many forced laborers, not just Koreans, but also Chinese and allied POW's

The article and I are talking about Koreans before the war.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

but I see Korean politicians demanding apologies from Japanese officially everyday, for something that was already settled in 1965 Korea-Japan normalization treaty.

Alex80, the 1965 Korea-Japan normalization treaty does not give Japan a blank check to revise history, deny comfort women and forced labors, and throw insulting words at Koreans. If you want to see Korean politicians shut up about demanding apologies, then Japanese politicians should first try shutting their mouths for once, to creating new controversies, or is that too much to ask?

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

Japanese colonization was an aggression, no doubt. Anyway, it's weird like some Koreans apparently don't understand like their alternative destiny at that time wasn't better than what happened, indeed they would have been occupied by the Europeans. I wonder if today they would ask apologies over and over again to UK or France.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

never got any from* of compensation or "sorry".

form

Do you see the British and the Americans actively engaged in denying that African slaves existed and that they didn't massacre the Indians?

The British never apologized to India, or to any other of their former colonies. Idem for the US. Or for France. It's easier accepting (only to some extent, never completely) some facts when the other part isn't asking for any form of apologies or compensation. Recently Greece started to ask for war compensation to Germany (it already happened in the past), and they have some rights to do it, despite it is used also like a political agenda against current German attitude in the EU. Do you think Germany adopted a soft approach towards Greece's request? Of course, no. About European colonialism in Africa, it is never really over. Look at the mess in Lybia, and the current recent scandal about French soldiers raping African kids (I don't even remember in which African country, too mess in that poor continent). How many things we don't know...How many countries should apologize to their victims...but it basically never happens, specially if those countries won WWII, and are still great political and military powers. Germany is a peculiar case for political reasons, but it's not completely "clean" anyway. How many times did Germany apologize to Russia, for example?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Alex80, you're firmly fixated on apologies, when that's not the main problem here. The main problem is Japan's revisionism which creates demands of apologies. Without Japan creating revisionist history, the demands of apologies die with the generations. However, Japan keeps this alive by its words and actions. One main reason why the relations between two countries is in the dumpsters is the declining importance of each countries to each other. Japan only represents 7% of total trade volume for South Korea, while Japan has seen a rapid declining trade/account surpluses with South Korea in the last several years. People from both countries see no reason why the relations should improve. But the reality is Japan has far more to lose in this, than South Korea does with Japan, simply due to the fact that Japan still enjoys a heavy trade surplus with Korea. Japanese products are still popular in Korea, despite the fact that you won't see a single South Korean product in Japan.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

Japan and S Korea could make grater influence on China and economic benefits if their relation become like husband and wife something like USA and Canada which also had no so very clear past history.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Alex80, you're firmly fixated on apologies, when that's not the main problem here. The main problem is Japan's revisionism which creates demands of apologies.

I believe new demands of apologies create more revisionism, and vice versa. The matter is really complex.

Japanese products are still popular in Korea, despite the fact that you won't see a single South Korean product in Japan.

What? Korean food? Korean cosmetics, music CDs, etc. are not Korean products? I doubt Korean people buy Japanese TVs, cars or smartphones. I guess Korea buys from Japan mainly components for their final products.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

It's time Japan and S Korea become like husband and wife this would benefit both economically and help to curb China aspiration in Sough China Sea. USA ans Canada is a good example how marriage between two countries can benefit both.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Whats bad about relations? Its the new cool

0 ( +1 / -1 )

I believe new demands of apologies create more revisionism, and vice versa. The matter is really complex.

Demands of apologies have always been there whenever Japan PM visits the Yasukuni. Nothing's new here. That never stopped Japan and Korea to meet and become friendly. What is new is Japan PM's nationalistic redirection to beautify Japanese colonial history, helped by Japanese media which is the reason why Korean president refuses to meet with Japan.

I doubt Korean people buy Japanese TVs, cars or smartphones

Koreans buy a crap load of Japanese cars, Japanese clothes, Japanese fashion goods, Japanese beer, Japanese anime, and eat in Japanese restaurant chains. Also South Korea's Japan's number one export market for fish from Fukushima, produces, and takes in 90% of Japan's radiation polluted concrete and steel for recycling. I didn't mean there are no Korean goods sold in Japan, but what I'm referring is that Japan sells far more to Korea than vice versa, so if the diplomatic tensions worsen, Japan has more to lose with Korea, than Korea with Japan, since Japan sells twice as more to Korea than the other way around.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

Koreans buy a crap load of Japanese cars

Naaaaaah :)

http://focus2move.com/south-korea-where-consumers-dislike-japanese-cars-see-details-with-september-2013-figures/

Why do you write such things when everyone can find easily the real data? About Japanese fashion, okay, I'll trust you because I know Uniqlo is really popular all over Asia. And beer and anime...come on. I was speaking about cars, TVs and smartphones. Well...bye.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

media has nothing to do with this. its shinzo abe politics

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Why do you write such things when everyone can find easily the real data?

Where's your real data other then car data that's over 2 years old? Look at the year on year increases of Japanese imports into Korea after Japanese manufacturers are able to cut the prices due to low value of Yen.

http://raycee1234.blogspot.ca/2015/04/korea-import-sales-jan-mar-2015-flying.html

It's pretty sad that Korea's foreign import market is bigger than Japan's foreign import market, when Japan is three times the size of Korea. I have to remind you, Korea sells exactly 0 cars in Japan.

And beer and anime...come on.

And you mentioned Korean food and cosmetics... come on.

I was speaking about cars, TVs and smartphones.

How many Koreans cars, TV's, and smartphones Japan buy?

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

Where's your real data other then car data that's over 2 years old? Look at the year on year increases of Japanese imports into Korea after Japanese manufacturers are able to cut the prices due to low value of Yen

Your source http://raycee1234.blogspot.ca/2015/04/korea-import-sales-jan-mar-2015-flying.html doesn't say that Japanese brands are popular at all! German cars are popular, so how I said something wrong? If we are speaking about imported cars, also Japanese prefer German cars over the others. They are considered "status symbol" all over the world, like having an Iphone rather than a Samsung smartphone.

And you mentioned Korean food and cosmetics... come on.

You are the one who said that in Japan there's not a single Korean product.

How many Koreans cars, TV's, and smartphones Japan buy?

But I never said that Japan buys a crap load of Korean cars, TVs and smartphones. ;)

1 ( +2 / -1 )

doesn't say that Japanese brands are popular at all! German cars are popular, so how I said something wrong?

They sold almost 7000 cars in three months, taking 11.8% of the import market, second to German makes. Compared that to zero cars sold in Japan, making the auto trade lopsided in Japan's favor by 28,000 to 0, if the currents sales for Japanese cars stay on same track. Not to mention the lopsided numbers if you take all the years from 1965 to today. I didn't say Japanese cars are popular in Korea, I said Korea buys a lot of Japanese cars (compared to what Japan buys from Korea).

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Back on topic please.

Many Koreans still remember Japan’s 35-year colonization as the era of brutality and humiliation, during which they were forced to use Japanese names and language

Koreans were not forced to use Japanese names. Many famous Koreans did not use Japanese names. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C5%8Dshi-kaimei#Those_who_retained_their_Korean-style_name

The Korean lamguage was not prohibited, either. There were many newspapers in the Korean language during the time. For example, http://news.donga.com/Pdf?ymd=19400402

I hope the press stop complicating the already complicated Korea Japan relationship.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

@ Alex 80,Triring and Sunrise777. What you are saying about Japan having helped KOREA after the war may be a bit true, but many pundits aver that till the mid 80's South Korea was dimmed as an economic basket case precisely because the Japanese had built many heavy industries in North Korea, like the fertilizer plants e.t.c. ( In readiness to invade China?).

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Cogito Ergo Sum

because the Japanese had built many heavy industries in North Korea, like the fertilizer plants e.t.c.

They were the first ones to go during the retaliation by the US military during the Korean war if I remember correctly. The only industrial complex that probably survived were the Sup'ung Dam and Hwacheon Dam.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Triring, the Japanese built those infrastructure to help their war efforts in Manchuria and China. They had absolutely no intention of helping Korean people. Much of the infrastructure were either in the North Korea or they were destroyed during the Korean War anyway. Citing them as if they were gifts from Japan is just an attempt to divert.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Papi2013

No nation develops infrastructure for welfare it's to provide the neccesary elements to upheave the economy in the region. The Koreans directly and indirectly benefitted from it with development of job oppertunities and infuse currency to the local economy. Don't kid yourself that it had no beneficial means to the Koreans and was all for Japan. This is another typical SK B$ argument that is shredded to pieces by common sense.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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