Jung Eui-yong Meets Motegi for the First Time... Will They Resolve Comfort Women and Contaminated Water Issues?

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] With the successful arrangement of the Korea-Japan foreign ministers' meeting, the groundwork for improving bilateral relations has been laid for now. However, due to the significant differences in opinions on various issues, pessimistic views dominate, suggesting that the meeting will amount to little more than a 'formal introduction' without clear conclusions. Analysts believe that both countries will use this meeting primarily to show the United States, which desires a Korea-US-Japan trilateral cooperation rather than bilateral improvement, that they are 'engaging in dialogue.'

The first meeting between Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong and Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu will take place on the 5th, following the Korea-US-Japan foreign ministers' meeting. On the 3rd (local time), while visiting London to attend the Group of Seven (G7) Foreign and Development Ministers' Meeting, Minister Chung shared this plan with local reporters. A Foreign Ministry official said on the 4th, "The schedule is being coordinated," adding, "It is not yet confirmed when they will meet."

Due to the deterioration of bilateral relations, Minister Chung has not even been able to speak with Minister Motegi since taking office in February, for over three months. While South Korea has repeatedly expressed willingness to engage in dialogue, Japan has maintained a high-handed stance, insisting that South Korea must first present solutions on issues such as comfort women and forced labor.

In this context, the Korea-Japan foreign ministers' meeting is largely seen as a response to the United States' request. Especially, the fact that the meeting is held not as a separate foreign ministers' meeting but on the sidelines of the G7 Foreign and Development Ministers' Meeting is viewed as a 'show' for the US.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

At the meeting, the two foreign ministers are expected to discuss issues such as comfort women, forced labor, and the Fukushima nuclear plant contaminated water, but it is unlikely that any clear conclusions will be reached.

Hwang Jae-ho, a professor in the Department of International Studies at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, said, "The Moon administration’s gesture of reconciliation toward Japan came too late, and since Japan has no regrets toward the Moon administration, it is difficult to find a breakthrough. Both governments are meeting mainly to show the US that they are 'making efforts to improve relations.'" He predicted that cooperation will be limited to non-sensitive matters such as the successful hosting of the Tokyo Olympics.

Lee Myeon-woo, Deputy Director of the Sejong Institute, also said, "Currently, Korea-Japan relations are in a deadlock, so if they just meet for a simple greeting and then end, it has little significance. There needs to be sincere discussions to find consensus or breakthroughs on how to resolve issues between Korea and Japan."

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