Finding Solutions to the Frozen Korea-Japan Relations, Relay of Visits to Japan

Representative Kim Jin-pyo and 7 Others Depart Today
Seohun Chief Also Faces Repeated Speculation of Japan Visit

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporters Lim Cheol-young and Jeon Jin-young] The South Korean government and political circles are making consecutive visits to Japan in search of solutions to improve Korea-Japan relations. Following National Intelligence Service Director Park Ji-won’s surprise visit to Japan from the 8th for a 3-night, 4-day schedule to meet with Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide, seven members of the Korea-Japan Parliamentary League led by Kim Jin-pyo of the Democratic Party of Korea also departed for Japan on the 12th, aiming to meet with Prime Minister Suga.

Additionally, reports from local Japanese media indicate that Seo Hoon, Director of the National Security Office at the Blue House, is coordinating his schedule to visit Japan soon. However, the Blue House has denied reports regarding Seo’s visit to Japan.

On the 12th, Japan’s Asahi Shimbun reported, citing Japanese government officials, that Seo is coordinating his schedule around the 17th to visit Japan. Asahi anticipated that South Korea might present a resolution proposal regarding the South Korean Supreme Court’s ruling on compensation for forced labor during the Japanese colonial period, which remains the biggest point of conflict between the two countries. If the visit takes place, it would be Seo’s first since assuming office. In response, a Blue House official stated, "The foreign media reports about Seo’s visit to Japan are not true."

Starting from this day, following Director Park’s surprise visit, seven members of the Korea-Japan Parliamentary League will visit Japan until the 14th. On this day, they will consecutively meet with Mori Yoshihiro, Chairman of the Tokyo Olympic Organizing Committee, and Nikai Toshihiro, Secretary-General of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. A joint secretariat meeting between the Korea-Japan Parliamentary League is also scheduled. The next day, they will meet with Yamaguchi Natsuo, leader of the coalition partner Komeito Party, and Edano Yukio, leader of the opposition Constitutional Democratic Party, and in the afternoon, they plan to pay a courtesy visit to the Japanese Prime Minister.

This visit is expected to focus on issues such as the forced labor compensation ruling, the Korea-Japan comfort women agreement, and the Fukushima nuclear power plant contaminated water issue. Discussions are also expected on solutions regarding the relations among South Korea, North Korea, the United States, and Japan in connection with the Tokyo Olympics scheduled for July next year. In particular, since Director Park proposed a comprehensive solution for improving Korea-US relations, including a 'Moon Jae-in?Suga Summit Declaration,' after meeting with Prime Minister Suga and parliamentary figures, there is interest in whether progress can be made on current issues.

On the 11th, at the airport on his way back, Director Park told reporters, "I felt that both Korean and Japanese leaders have a strong will to normalize relations," and added, "There will be appropriate progress from the Blue House as well." While he refrained from detailing the specific discussions during his visit, he confirmed the Japanese media reports that he proposed a new Korea-Japan joint declaration to Prime Minister Suga, following the 1998 'Kim Dae-jung?Obuchi Declaration,' saying, "They wrote it truthfully."

Since the government proactively proposed a comprehensive solution through a joint declaration by the two leaders, the Korea-Japan Parliamentary League led by Representative Kim is expected to follow the same course. At a press conference on the 9th announcing the visit plan, Representative Kim said that if the parliamentary leagues of both countries deeply involve themselves in individual issues, it could only cause confusion, but added, "Even with the forced labor issue alone, there are many common solutions, and since there are also economic issues and the comfort women issue, they must be resolved collectively."

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