Foreign Minister of South Korea visits Japan for the first time Meeting with Foreign Minister Hayashi seeks understanding for improving Japan-South Korea relations

South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin will visit Japan for the first time since taking office on the 18th to meet with Foreign Minister Hayashi.

At the meeting, he explained that a joint public-private council was discussing a breakthrough on the issue of "recruitment" during the Pacific War, which is the biggest concern between the two countries, and aimed at improving the cold Japan-South Korea relations. I would like to gain the understanding of the Japanese side.

South Korea's Foreign Minister Park Chin will visit Japan for the first time since taking office in May for three days from the 18th, and will meet with Foreign Minister Hayashi in Tokyo in the evening.

Regarding the issue of "recruitment" during the Pacific War, which is the biggest concern between the two countries, the judicial procedure for "monetization" to sell the assets of Japanese companies in South Korea is in progress, and the Japanese government has "monetized". If this happens, the relationship between Japan and South Korea will fall into a serious situation, and we are seeking a concrete solution from the South Korean side.

Regarding this, Foreign Minister Park said at a press conference last week that he would "work to resolve it before it is'monetized'", and in a meeting with Foreign Minister Hayashi, a public-private joint launch on July 4th. It is expected to explain the efforts of the South Korean side, such as discussing breakthrough measures at the council.

The Yoon Seok-you administration is focusing on strengthening cooperation between Japan, the United States and South Korea, with North Korea accelerating nuclear and missile development, and the Japanese side is working to improve the chilled Japan-South Korea relations. I want to get the understanding of.

"Worst after the war" Japan-South Korea relations under the previous administration

Relations between Japan and South Korea have cooled to the point where they are said to be the worst after the war under the former Moon Jae-in administration.

The trigger was the issue of "recruitment" during the Pacific War, and in October 2018, the Supreme Court of South Korea ordered Japanese companies to compensate for the first time.

The Mun administration has not changed its stance of respecting judicial decisions based on the principle of separation of powers, and the procedures for "monetizing" the assets of Japanese companies in South Korea have proceeded.

In July 2019, the Japanese government said that the trade control system on the Korean side was inadequate and there were security concerns, and when it took measures to tighten export control for three items such as semiconductor raw materials, it went to Japan in South Korea. The repulsion of Japanese products has increased, and the boycotts of Japanese products have spread.

The Mun administration strongly opposed that the tightening of Japan's export control was a retaliation measure over the issue of "recruitment," and announced that it would abolish the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) with Japan in August 2019.

Three months later, when the GSOMIA was about to expire, the Mun administration decided to turn around and maintain the status quo, but insisted that it could be terminated at any time.

In addition, regarding the comfort women issue, in January of last year (2021), the district court in South Korea ordered the Japanese government to compensate the former comfort women, and the judgment was finalized.

The Yoon Seok-you administration, which was launched in May (2022) amid a pile of issues between the two countries, has a strong desire to improve relations with Japan with North Korea in mind to accelerate nuclear and missile development. Is shown.

On the issue of "recruitment", which is the biggest concern, on the 4th of this month (July), a public-private joint council was set up to discuss breakthrough measures, and experts and plaintiffs' representatives of the trial over "recruitment" I am joining.

South Korean media reported that a final decision will be made this summer on the "monetization" of Japanese companies' assets in South Korea, and Foreign Minister Park Jin said at a press conference last week, "'Cash. I will try to solve it before it is monetized. "