Bilateral relations between the Republic of Korea and Japan after 1965

The relationship between South Korea and Japan has evolved through a complex historical process intertwined with both conflicts and economic cooperation. Following the Meiji Restoration (1868-1912), Japan rapidly modernized and began fostering imperial ambitions, which significantly influenced its policies toward Korea and China. Fukuzawa Yukichi's Datsu-A Ron (1885) argued that Japan should break away from traditional Asian values and align itself with Western powers, providing ideological justification for Japan’s foreign policy. In the Seikanron debates, Yoshida Shoin viewed Korea as a strategic asset for Japan’s expansion, while Okubo Toshimichi regarded Korea as a target for Japan’s civilizing mission. These perspectives laid the groundwork for Japan’s aggressive foreign policies, culminating in the Treaty of Ganghwa in 1876 and the Japan-Korea Annexation Treaty in 1910. As a result, Korea became a Japanese colony, suffering economic exploitation and cultural suppression. This colonial rule deeply influenced the 1965 Treaty on Basic Relations and the Claims Agreement between South Korea and Japan. While these agreements contributed to South Korea's economic development, they failed to fully resolve historical grievances. Japan asserted that all individual claims were settled through the agreement, but the lack of adequate compensation or apology for victims sparked continued dissatisfaction in South Korea. Public discontent over Japan’s stance was met with government suppression. Despite these tensions, economic cooperation between the two countries persisted, though historical issues such as the comfort women controversy resurfaced in the 1990s. During the 1997 Asian financial crisis, Japan provided financial support to South Korea, reinforcing their economic ties. However, Japan’s 2019 export restrictions on South Korea caused a sharp deterioration in relations. In response, South Korea diversified its import sources, which, in turn, affected the countries' economic interactions and strained security cooperation under the GSOMIA agreement. By 2023, relations began to recover with mutual visits by South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Japan lifted its export restrictions on semiconductors, while South Korea withdrew its complaint against Japan at the World Trade Organization (WTO). This allowed bilateral economic relations to fully return to their pre-2019 state, and both countries have since focused on strengthening cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region. Japan, through its Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy, is bolstering security partnerships with the United States, India, and Australia, while South Korea, under the Yoon administration, has reinforced its engagement in Indo-Pacific strategies, supporting democratic values and human rights. Ultimately, the relationship between South Korea and Japan has evolved through a complex interplay of historical grievances and economic cooperation. Resolving historical issues while fostering future-oriented cooperation is essential for stabilizing bilateral relations and ensuring regional peace. Healing historical wounds and promoting mutual understanding are critical to expanding cooperation in political, economic, and military areas. Such progress will contribute to a rules-based international order and sustainable peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.