Kishida Lacks Domestic Political Connections... Communication Difficulties Expected

Issues Including Historical Problems Accumulate
Japan-Korea Parliamentary League Hopes for Improved Relations
"Those Willing to Achieve Results"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeon Jinyoung] In the domestic political sphere, there is a forecast that future improvements in Korea-Japan relations may face some difficulties due to the lack of individuals with close ties to Fumio Kishida, the new leader of Japan's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).

According to political circles on the 30th, although Prime Minister Kishida is known for his connection to Korea, having led the Korea-Japan comfort women agreement during the Park Geun-hye administration, his network is not considered extensive.

It is difficult to find figures within the domestic political sphere and government who have direct contact with Prime Minister Kishida. Given the numerous unresolved issues between Korea and Japan, including historical disputes, there are concerns about communication challenges between the political and governmental sectors. The only notable figure overlapping with Kishida’s tenure as Foreign Minister during the Abe administration is former Foreign Minister Yoon Byung-se.

Within the Korea-Japan Parliamentary League, a group for exchanges between Korean and Japanese lawmakers, there is no one closely connected to Kishida. A league official stated, "There were hardly any lawmakers who mentioned having ties with Kishida." Even Kim Seok-ki, a member of the People Power Party who serves as the secretary of the Korea-Japan Parliamentary League and previously stayed in Japan as a police attach? in Tokyo, described their relationship as "having met in the past but not close," adding, "We only exchanged greetings briefly."

The political network narrows down to former lawmaker Na Kyung-won, who met Kishida during her time as chair of the National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee when she visited Japan. Within the LDP, there is Toshihiro Nikai, the secretary-general who has close ties with the parliamentary league and is on friendly terms with Park Jie-won, the director of the National Intelligence Service, but Kishida has raised concerns about his term, and his replacement appears imminent.

However, the Korea-Japan Parliamentary League expressed optimism about new figures at its general meeting on the 30th, describing Kishida as "someone with the will to achieve results." During the meeting, the league mentioned Kishida’s role in the comfort women agreement and the potential for improving bilateral relations. Kim Jin-pyo, the chairman of the Korea-Japan Parliamentary League, said at the general meeting held at the CCMM Building in Yeouido, Seoul, "Kishida was the person responsible for the Korea-Japan comfort women agreement despite opposition from the Abe administration. He is someone with the will to achieve results." He added, "If both countries’ political circles return to the determination they had when making the agreement and abandon the wrong attitude of shifting responsibility, they can build a foundation for a future-oriented bilateral relationship." Kim predicted, "There will be various exchanges and cooperation in politics, economy, and culture," and expressed hope that "progressive changes can also be made regarding historical issues."

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