In his March 1st Campaign remembrance day address, President Roh Moo Hyun demanded that Japan "clarify the truth about the past and apologize, compensate where compensation is appropriate," and that the two countries should then reconcile. His statement is being interpreted as reflecting a strong political will to resolve the issue of the past before his term is over, since it is holding back the development or relations between Korea and Japan. That is not a right and timely approach. One hopes to see appropriate action from Japan.
The basis for Roh's argument is extremely appropriate. He said Korea and Japan are a "community of nations that must open up a new era in Northeast Asia" but that legal and political progress will not guaranteed a future, saying there "has to be even more substantial reconciliation and cooperation." He said so because there are still historical issues that have not been resolved. Japan should take the same route as Germany, freeing itself of the confines of the past by healing wounds through examining the truth, apologizing, and compensating, based on sincere self-reflection. That would be, among other things, the universal method of settling the past that is followed the world over. Roh's comments might be considered a standard by which to determine a point of departure for a new Korea-Japan relationship.
It will be a problem should Japan not react with ample good faith. The Japanese government has always asserted that the compensation issue was resolved with the Korea-Japan treaty. That argument is not one that seeks to resolve the issue, and it is a far cry from the truth as well. Roh, too, recognizes that the Korean government did not do all it should in respect to the treaty and compensation, but the general view is that Japan, too, has not freed itself from responsibility either. Furthermore, during the treaty negotiations it was only the forcibly military and labor conscripts who were discussed. There was not even mention of the "Comfort Women," victims of the atomic bomb, Koreans sent to Sakhalin, or others. That is why there could need to be additional negotiations regarding the treaty or even complete renegotiation, depending on what Japan's attitude is.
Japan has been closed to itself so far, being passive about resolving issues from the past and with comments that seek to rationalize colonial rule, such as with the historical fabrications in history textbooks. It is only a matter of course that Japan's motive is being held suspect when it is pursuing a program of militarization and wants to amend its "peace constitution." Japan needs to take Roh's speech as a final warning in which he expresses good faith towards it as a neighboring country. The only point of departure for Japan in winning the confidence of the international community is to actively seek to deal with history.
The Hankyoreh, 2 March 2005.
[Translations by Seoul Selection (PMS)]
[Editorial] The Possibility of Renegotiations With Japan |
