As the number of surviving comfort women decreases, various projects are ongoing to continue their legacies. Various Asian countries have created TV documentaries and historical book to show what realities comfort women faced. Moreover, China has created its first comfort…
President Lee met with Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru to strengthen bilateral relations in various areas. It was the first by a South Korean leader to visit Japan before going to the U.S., signifying a potential pivotal step toward more forward…
South Korea celebrated its 80th Liberation Day, featuring cultural performances that commemorate independence fighters. President Lee also had his inauguration that sparked criticism that his event may overshadow historical commemoration of the event. His message on building better relationship with…
South Korea has shown strong discomfort about Japan’s failure to acknowledge Korean forced labor on Hashima Island. South Korea accused Japan for breaking its pledge to fully acknowledge and memorialize suffering in brutal working condition. This issue highlights ongoing tension…
Hiroshima’s Vice Governor Yokota Mika meets with the South Korean Hibakusha and their descendants to learn about their experiences by visiting memorials and hear their concerns on lack of recognition. With 10~20% of Hibakusha being Korean, they are being excluded…
South Korea has unveiled various plans to commemorate its Liberation Day (광복절). These plan include holding festival along Han River, creating a commemorative coin, and holding special exhibition regarding independence activists. The exhibitions especially utilizes AI technology to display new…
Newly elected South Korean President Lee Jae-myung emphasized cooperation with Japan, although having harsh rhetoric on historical issue. The President stated that the country’s relationship with Japan is inseparable, where a deeper collaboration will benefit both South Korea and Japan…
Japan’s Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru sent ritual offering to Yasukuni Shrine where both South and North Korea expressed deep regret on the Prime Minister’s action. Though some argue that honoring individual sacrifice should be seen distinctly from glorifying Japan’s militaristic…
With the age of the Comfort Women victims reaching the 90s, many died and only a few Chinese and South Korean victims are left. These victims criticize stalled reparations from Japan and say that apologies must go beyond silence money…
With martial law declaration, Japanese officials are reconsidering diplomatic plans with South Korea. It suspended diplomatic engagements with uncertainty rose even in broader U.S.-Japan-South Korea security partnership as the opposition is trying for an impeachment. The Asahi Shimbum Article: https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15537648…
Japan’s Atomic bomb survivors were awarded the 2024 Noble Peace Price for their long fight to abolish nuclear weapons. Although many victims celebrated the event, Korean victims had mixed emotional response as they are marginalized within the Japanese-led organization. Kyodo…
Japan posted Sado Mine for UNESCO World Heritage without clearly apologizing or labeling Koreans as “forced laborers”. This action caused rising diplomatic tensions with South Korea on historical reconciliation with South Korea boycotting Japan’s first memorial event for victims. Yonhap…
Japan’s Gunma Prefecture has removed Korean forced labor memorial due to criticism over alleged political use. People argue that this decision can set a dangerous precedent for erasing painful historical truth and being a signal as a retreat from reconciliation…
South Korea’s Supreme Court ordered Japanese corporation to directly compensate Korean forced labor victims, while Japan formally protested. President Yoon stated it will use domestic third-party funds to facilitate reparation as a part of restoring relations with Japan. Hankyoreh Article:…
New school textbook in Japan have replaced terms like “forcibly mobilized” with “participated” and reaffirmed Japanese sovereignty over Dokdo. This changes symbolize right wing political pressure, which downplayed Japanese military’s role in mass suicides and comfort women that betrayed South…
U.S., Japan, and South Korea had a trilateral summit meeting in Camp David on August 18th, 2023. The meeting was primarily aimed to enhance trilateral military, economic, and regional coordination between three countries to reshape Northeast Asian security cooperation with…
South Korea and Japan restored diplomatic channels between both countries’ leaders since its closure 12 years ago. While the meeting bolstered stronger cooperation, historical issues like comfort women or militaristic issues like 2018 radar lock-on incident still hinder further ties.…
The Mainichi: S. Korea foreign minister meets Japan wartime labor plaintiffs The Korea Herald: Foreign Minister to meet with victims of Japan’s forced labor The Korea Times: Foreign minister vows diplomatic solution to forced labor dispute with Japan
The Asahi Shimbun: Yoon restates his will to mend ties with Japan on Liberation Day Nikkei Asia: South Korea’s Yoon vows to ‘swiftly’ improve Japan ties The Korea Herald: Yoon says dialogue with NK needed, but should not be political…
Kyodo News: South Korea ruling party presidential candidate ready for talks with Japan The Korea Herald: [Election 2022] How do Lee and Yoon view Japan?
Al Jazeera: S Korea presidential poll: Choosing the lesser of two evils (Opinion Piece) Nikkei Asia: South Korean presidential campaign mired in mudslinging The Korea Times: More Korean voters balk at choosing presidential candidates The Korea Herald: [Kim Seong-kon] 10…
The Asahi Shimbun: Seoul blasts bid for Sado gold mine to go on heritage list The Japan News (By the Yomiuri Shimbun): Controversial Sado mine proposed for UNESCO nod The Korea Times: Brazen-faced move (Opinion Piece) Korea JoongAng Daily: Another…
The Mainichi: Editorial: Hit Japanese drama ‘Oshin’ screenwriter Hashida’s work showed true human nature Asahi Shimbun: Mishima’s long-lost short novel headed for print after 72 years Chosun Ilbo: Korea Foundation Sponsors N.Korean Propaganda Art Show The Mainichi: Okinawa’s Himeyuri Peace…
With Blackpink’s ‘protest trucks,’ have K-pop fans gone too far? (SCMP) New Live-Action Film Based on Stan Lee Story Inspired by China’s Monkey King Ignited Discussion in China (Global Times) Hollywood aims to win hearts of Chinese moviegoers by introducing…