President Lee Jae-myung’s remarks on August 21 that past agreements between conservative governments of Korea and Japan on the issues of wartime “c...
The Statue of Peace in front of the former Japanese Embassy in Jongno-gu, Seoul, is seen surrounded by police barricades on August 21. / Reporter Jung Hyo-jin President Lee Jae-myung’s remarks on August 21 that past agreements between conservative governments of Korea and Japan on the issues of wartime “comfort women” for Japanese soldiers and forced labor compensation should not be overturned, since they are bilateral commitments, are being interpreted as a signal of his intent to actively pursue economic cooperation with Japan in line with his principle of pragmatic diplomacy.
Following his Liberation Day address on August 15 and two days before the upcoming Korea-Japan summit, Lee reaffirmed his “two-track” approach to Tokyo, saying, “We must face history squarely while also exercising the wisdom to move forward into the future,” thus making clear the separation of historical issues and practical cooperation. In an interview published the same day in Japan’s Yomiuri Shimbun, President Lee said, “Trust and consistency of policy are essential principles in state-to-state relations,” adding, “Our government’s position remains unchanged that agreements formally concluded between the two governments must be respected.” In 2015, the Park Geun-hye administration reached an agreement with then–Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s government, declaring the final and irreversible resolution of the wartime “comfort women” issue. Under the deal, the Korean government received 1 billion yen in contributions from Japan to fund the Reconciliation and Healing Foundation. In 2023, the Yoon Suk-yeol administration proposed a “third-party compensation plan” to resolve lawsuits filed by victims of wartime forced labor, under which a government-affiliated foundation in Seoul would provide payments in place of Japanese defendant companies. On August 21, three days before the second anniversary of the release of treated radioactive wastewater from Fukushima, environmental activists stage a protest in front of the presidential office in Yongsan, Seoul, calling on the government to push for onshore treatment of the wastewater through the upcoming Korea-Japan summit. / Reporter Sung Dong-hoon Lee’s remarks are seen as emphasizing that future cooperation should be developed on the foundation of honoring such past commitments between the two countries. At the same time, Lee also pointed out flaws and limitations in the earlier agreements. He described them as “agreements made by previous administrations that the Korean people found very difficult to accept,” stressing that “historical issues are matters of deep sentiment, and a process of reconciliation is needed to resolve long-standing grievances.” His comments suggest that stressing future-oriented cooperation does not mean brushing aside the past but rather confronting it honestly. Lee added, “An apology should be made sincerely until the wounds of the victims are healed,” and “we must work together to find solutions.” With this in mind, attention is turning to what remarks Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba will make at the upcoming summit, after he became the first Japanese leader in 13 years to mention “remorse” in his August 15 speech marking the 80th anniversary of Japan’s defeat in World War II. 정치 많이 본 기사 President Lee also underlined the importance of future-focused economic and trade cooperation. “We need to build an unprecedented level of economic partnership that goes beyond what we have achieved so far,” he said. He further suggested, “It is time to seriously discuss establishing a firm economic cooperation framework among Pacific Rim countries, including East Asia,” a statement widely interpreted as leaving open the possibility of Korea joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership , which is led by Japan. Lee praised the joint declaration made between then Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi and then Korean President Kim Dae-jung in 1998, saying, “I hope we can carry on that declaration and announce a new joint declaration that goes beyond it.” However, given the limited preparation time for the summit, many observers believe the two leaders may not adopt a new declaration this time but could reach agreement in principle on pursuing one in the future.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Korea seeks to safeguard rice while negotiating lower U.S. tariffs on carsWith just ten days left until U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposed retaliatory tariff implementation date of August 1, Japan has abruptly conclud...
Read more »
President Lee says, ‘Korea now poised to compete on equal or better terms with global powers’President Lee Jae-myung said on July 31 that the conclusion of tariff negotiations with the U.S. marked the overcoming of “a major hurdle.” He high...
Read more »
President Lee chooses ruling bloc unity despite pardon abuse criticismPresident Lee Jae-myung on August 11 granted a Liberation Day special pardon and reinstatement to 2,188 people, including Cho Kuk, former leader of...
Read more »
Lee Jae-myung administration’s tough stance on workplace accidents needs enduring frameworkPresident Lee Jae-myung said at the Cabinet meeting on August 12, “Taking someone’s life to save costs is a societal homicide,” and emphasized, “An...
Read more »
‘The humor expressed by Derpy is our strength,‘ says President Lee on ‘K-Pop Demon Hunters’President Lee Jae-myung appeared on a television program on August 20 alongside the director of Netflix’s animated film “K-Pop Demon Hunters,” sayi...
Read more »
KORAIL gave workers radios but failed to warn of approaching trainIt has been confirmed that the Korea Railroad Corporation (KORAIL) did not send a radio message to notify track workers of an approaching train in ...
Read more »