Koizumi’s Impact on Korea-Japan Ties

An international academic conference discussing the government of Koizumi Junichiro, who will step down with the Japanese Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Prime Minister elections on September 20, and the future relationship of Koran and Japan was held in the Yonsei University Centennial Hall in Seoul. The conference was hosted by Hwajeong Peace Foundation, an annex of Dong-A Ilbo, 21st Century Peace Institute, and Modern Japan Society, and sponsored by Dong-A Ilbo. At this conference, which was held with “Five Years of Koizumi’s Government: Assessment and Outlook” as the main theme, three Japanese scholars including Tanaka Akihiko, professor of International Relations at Tokyo University, and 15 Korean scholars including Professor Choi Sang-yong of Korea University participated in the conference.

At this conference, many voiced that the failure of the Korean-Japanese summit was the key reason that the relationship between Korea and Japan has gotten worse. Also, many thought a new Japanese government will not necessarily make the relationship better.

-Lack of understanding has worsened the relationship

Tanaka judged, “The Koizumi government was a dual structure, where the Prime Minister led the diplomatic relationship with the U.S., and the administration with other countries. As a result, the relationship with the U.S. was a success, while Korean and Chinese relations were not.”

He also criticized, “Some say ‘value U.S., neglect Asia,’ about Prime Minister Koizumi’s diplomacy, but actually it’s ‘value U.S.A., be ill-informed about Asia.’ Especially in diplomacy dealings with Korea and China, he has considered the domestic political situation a lot, as can be seen in his visits to Yasukuni shrine.”

Park Cheol-hee, professor of Graduate School of International Studies at Seoul National University, assessed, “The reason that the Korean-Japanese relationship is experiencing continuous complications is due to the fact that the relationship between the two leaders of the countries is continuously worsening.”

Park said, “During the past five years, the civilian culture exchange has been increasing. Meanwhile, the lack of understanding each other by Prime Minister Koizumi and President Roh Moo-hyun has exacerbated the relationship between two countries; Koizumi has treated the Korean-Japanese relationship at a domestic politics level, and President Roh has centered on North Korea.”

He added, “Considering that Chief Cabinet Secretary Abe Shinzo, a leading candidate for the next Prime Minister, is a hard-liner against North Korea, it will not be easy to improve the relationship,” and gave his opinion that the outlook on the Korean-Japanese relationship is not bright.

Japan, which is trying to become a military power, must gain trust in Asia-

Worries on Japan’s rearmament followed. Japan has changed its national defense and security policy by strengthening the relationship between the U.S.-Japanese alliances during the last five years of Koizumi government.

Park Young-jun, professor at Korea National Defense University, analyzed, “Under Koizumi government, Japan strengthened its intelligence gathering ability on defensive war potential, and the employment of the Self-Defense Forces, which were separated into land, navy and air, will be unified as of next year, for a multi-functional and flexible defense.” In addition, some worries about Japanese potential for imperialism; Japan has stirred its neighbor countries by raising the issue of changing its peace constitution that renounces war and the right of belligerency and proposing first-attack policy and nuclear-armed state policy.

Kim Seong-cheol, researcher at the Sejong Institute, said, “Japan, which is already a military power, is growing its power by expanding its high-tech military equipment and intelligence abilities. With Japan’s nuclear-armed state policy abounding, we must think of what changes the increase in Japan’s military strength will bring about.”

However, many voiced that Japan’s ‘becoming a military power’ should not be viewed as imperialism, and shouldn’t be dealt with emotionally.

Soeya Yoshihide, professor at Keio University, said, “While it is true there are movements requiring changes in the after-war structure, national defense and security policies are promoted at a bureaucratic level, and it is dangerous to look at them as a combined matter.”

Professor Park also said, “Judging Japan as militarizing because of military growth is not logical. Yet Japan should focus on collaborative security preparations through trust within the Northeastern region, instead of raising military tensions with North Korea and China.

weappon@donga.com