Video Conference Replaces Korea-Japan Export Control Policy Dialogue Due to COVID-19

Scheduled for June 10 in Seoul but switched to video conference
Opinions suggest negotiations will not be smooth
"Exclusion from whitelist, significant disagreements on details"
Forced labor compensation ruling and possibility of Japan's war flag asset liquidation
Academia: "Should discuss core issues, not just peripheral ones"

On the morning of December 16 last year, at the 17th floor, 1st Special Conference Room of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry main building in Japan, Lee Ho-hyun, the chief Korean representative and Director of Trade Policy at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (left), is shaking hands with Ida Yoichi, Director of Trade Management at the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, during the 7th Korea-Japan Export Control Policy Dialogue. (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The '8th Korea-Japan Export Control Policy Dialogue,' originally scheduled to be held in Seoul on the 10th, has been changed to a video conference format. Amid the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) and Japan's restrictions on the entry of Koreans, there is a consensus that holding a proper dialogue will be difficult. In this regard, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy stated, "Both sides have agreed to change the format to a video conference."

According to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy on the 7th, preparations are underway for the 8th dialogue just three months after the 7th policy dialogue held in Tokyo, Japan, on December 16 last year. In the meeting, Korea plans to discuss issues related to Japan's exclusion of Korea from the whitelist (countries given preferential export screening for security reasons) and request Japan to restore the status to the level before the export regulations imposed on July 1 last year.

Regarding this, Hong Nam-ki, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, said at the 'Ministerial Meeting on External Economy and Related Ministers' Meeting on Japan's Export Regulations' on the 6th, "The export control policy dialogue between the two countries, scheduled to be held in Seoul in the future, must be conducted productively," and "We strongly urge the Japanese government to take concrete actions and measures to restore the regulatory measures to their original state at this meeting."

Sung Yun-mo, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy, also emphasized at the meeting that Japan's pointed issues such as ▲ the loss of trust due to the lack of policy dialogues between the two countries from 2016 to last year ▲ insufficient legal basis for catch-all control of conventional weapons ▲ vulnerabilities in Korea's export control personnel and organization are being addressed.

However, as Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinz? announced on the 5th that, to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Korean entrants would be "requested to quarantine for two weeks at designated facilities," doubts are growing about whether the director-level meeting on the 10th will be properly held. With the meeting format also changed to a video conference, suspicions arise that the already sluggish dialogue between the two sides may end 'empty-handed' again this time.

Currently, it is reported that there are significant differences in detailed views between the two countries. A Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy official said, "At the meeting, differences in the systems and operations related to export control items and whitelist exclusion between Korea and Japan will be confirmed," but added, "Japan has repeatedly stated that 'there are still matters to be reviewed' despite Korea's active request for 'restoration to the original state.'"

Experts believe that, as with the previous seven dialogues, it is highly likely that no significant achievements will be made this time either. They pointed out that if the government discusses only peripheral issues without mentioning the diplomatic challenges related to the core agenda causing friction with Japan, such as the forced labor compensation rulings, the pace of negotiations will be slow. They also explained that the possibility of the realization of asset liquidation measures against Japanese wartime companies cannot be ruled out, which adds to the burden.

Professor Jung In-gyo of the Department of International Trade at Inha University said, "If Korea-Japan relations were normal, Japan would have consulted in advance before imposing entry restrictions, but this time they did not at all," and "Japan openly talks about the Korean Supreme Court's forced labor compensation ruling, but Korea only talks about the surrounding circumstances."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.