Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-qsmjn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-19T15:49:11.880Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Have Korea and Japan Reconciled? A Focus on the Three Stages of Reconciliation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 August 2015

JA-HYUN CHUN
JA-HYUN CHUN*
Affiliation:
Research Professor, GSIS (Graduate School of International Studies) at Korea Universityjahyunchun@gmail.com
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Previous studies on international reconciliation have focused on the security and economic interests of the countries involved, treating reconciliation as an end-goal rather than an ongoing process. This study divides the process of reconciliation into three stages. ‘Procedural reconciliation’, which refers to the mending of international relations through institutional change, is the most basic. In the ‘material reconciliation’ phase, the perpetrator(s) provides the victim(s) – either at the individual or state level – with economic compensation for inflicting harm. The third stage, ‘ideational reconciliation’, is reached when the perpetrator acknowledges past wrongdoings and when civil and cultural exchanges are carried out smoothly.

This study delves into the relations between South Korea and Japan. Even though reconciliation between South Korea and Japan is vital to achieve stable peace in Northeast Asia, the topic has not received sufficient scholarly attention. Former studies have focused on bilateral relations, but few have discussed the two countries' path towards reconciliation. In this study, readers will find an in-depth analysis of the ties between South Korea and Japan from an international reconciliation perspective, one which will help them understand how the two nations have worked towards understanding and how much they have achieved to date. The study also suggests a roadmap to reach the final stage of reconciliation and identifies the policy changes needed to get there.

Type
Research Article
Information
Japanese Journal of Political Science , Volume 16 , Issue 3 , September 2015 , pp. 315 - 331
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2015 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Ackermann, Alice (1994), ‘Reconciliation as a Peace-Building Process in Postwar Europe-The Franco-German Case’, Peace and Change, 19 (3): 229‒50.Google Scholar
Arai, Shinichi and Kim, Tae-Wook (2006), Yŏksa hwahaenŭn ganŭng hanga-dongasia yŭksamunjaeŭi haepŏpŭl chajasŏ [Is Historical Reconciliation Possible?: Finding Solutions for Historical Issues in East Asia], Seoul: Mirae M & B.Google Scholar
Asan Institute for Policy Studies, ‘Public Opinion on Korea-Japan Relations’, November 2013. http://en.asaninst.org/contents/test2-test2-test2-test2-test2-test2-test2-test2-test2-test2/Google Scholar
Auerbach, Yehudit (2003), ‘The Role of Forgiveness in Reconciliation’, in Bar-Siman-Tov, Yaccov (ed.), From Conflict Resolution to Reconciliation, New York: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Azuma, Yasushi (2001), ‘Release of bilingual CD Aims to Soothe Tokyo-Seoul Discord’, Kyodo News, 1 May.Google Scholar
Bar-Tal, Daniel and Bennink, Gemma H. (2004), ‘The Nature of Reconciliation as an Outcome and as a Process’, in Bar-Siman-Tov, Yaacov (ed.), From Conflict Resolution to Reconciliation, New York: Oxford University Press, pp. 11‒38.Google Scholar
Bargal, David and Sivan, Emmanuel (2004), ‘Leadership and Reconciliation’, in Bar-Siman-Tov, Yaccov (ed.), From Conflict Resolution to Reconciliation, New York: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Buruma, Ian (2002), The Wages of Guilt: Memories of War in Germany and Japan, London: Jonathan Cape.Google Scholar
Cabinet Office, Government of Japan, International Youth Exchange Program, http://www8.cao.go.jp/youth/english/koryu1-e.html (accessed 10 June 2014).Google Scholar
Cha, Victor (1999), Alignment Despite Antagonism, Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press.Google Scholar
Crocker, David A. (1999) ‘Reckoning with Past Wrongs: A Normative Framework’, Ethics and International Affairs, 13: 43‒64.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dower, John W. (1995), ‘Japan Addresses its War Responsibility’, The Journal of The International Institute, 3 (1): 8‒11.Google Scholar
Feldman, Lily Gardner (2012), Germany's Foreign Policy of Reconciliation: From Enmity to Amity, London: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.Google Scholar
Feldman, Lily Gardner (2014), ‘Reconciliation Means Having to Say You're Sorry, And Other Lessons Germany Can Teach Japan, China, and South Korea’, American Institute for Contemporary German Studies.Google Scholar
Yoichi, Funabashi (ed.) (2003), Reconciliation in the Asia-Pacific, Washington, DC: United States Institute of Peace.Google Scholar
Gardner-Feldman, Lily (1999), ‘The Principle and Practice of Reconciliation in German Foreign Policy: Relations with France, Israel, Poland and the Czech Republic’, International Affairs, 75 (2): 333‒56.Google Scholar
He, Yinan (2009), The Search for Reconciliation: Sino Japanese and German Polish Relations Since World War II, New York: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Heo, Seunghoon Emilia (2012), Reconciling Enemy States in Europe and Asia, London: Palgrave Macmillan.Google Scholar
Hundt, David and Bleiker, Roland (2007), ‘Reconciling Colonial Memories in Korea and Japan’, Asian Perspective, 31 (1): 77–82.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kelman, Herbert C. (1999), ‘Transforming the Relationship between Former Enemies: A Social-Psychological Analysis’, in Rothstein, R.L. (ed.), After the Peace: Resistance and Reconciliation, Boulder, CO, and London: Lynne Rienner, pp. 193‒205.Google Scholar
Kim, Kyŭng-yeol (2002), ‘1990 neŏndae ilbonesŏŭi jŭnhubosangronkwa hankukinŭi insik’ [Japanese Voices for the Post-War Reparations in the 1990s and the Korean Perspective], Hanil minjok munjae yeŏnku, 2.Google Scholar
Kim, Myŭng-sŏp (2010) ‘Saenfŭransisŭko chaejeŭi byeondongkwa 6jahoedam’ [The Change of San Francisco System and Six Party Talks], Kukbang yeŏngu, 50 (2): 59.Google Scholar
Koshar, Rudy (2000), From Monuments to Traces: Artifacts of German Memory 1870–1990, Berkeley, CA: University of California Press.Google Scholar
Kriesberg, Louis (1998), Constructive Conflicts: From Escalation to Resolution, New York: Rowman & Littlefield.Google Scholar
Krotz, Ulrich and Schild, Joachim (2013), Shaping Europe, Oxford: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Kunz, J. L. (1952), ‘Ending the War with Germany’, American Journal of International Law, 46: 114.Google Scholar
Kupchan, Charles (2010), How Enemies Become Friends: The Sources of Stable Peace, Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.Google Scholar
Lee, J. (2011), Han-il Hoedam gwa Bandai Woon-dong [Korea-Japan Negotiations and Anti- Movement], Seoul: Parabooks.Google Scholar
Lee, Jung-hoon (2002), ‘Interview with Ambassador Sangyoung Choi’, Shindonga, May.Google Scholar
Lee, Sŏk-Woo (2010), Dongasiaŭi yŏngtobunjaegkwa kugjaepŏp [Territorial Disputes in East Asia and International Law], Seoul: Jipmundang.Google Scholar
Lee, Won-deŏk (2006), ‘Hanilhuidamaesŏ natanan ilbonŭi sikminji jibae insik’ [Japanese Perspective on Colonial Rule in Korea–Japan Talks], HankuksaYŭngu, 31.Google Scholar
Little, Adrian. (2007), Enduring Conflict: Challenging the Signature of Peace and Democracy, London: Bloomsbury.Google Scholar
Maoz, Ifat (2004), ‘Social-Cognitive Mechanisms in Reconciliation’, in Bar Siman-Tov, Y (ed.), From Conflict Resolution to Reconciliation, Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 225‒38.Google Scholar
Meier, Gerald (1974), Problems of Cooperation for Development, New York: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (1993), http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/women/fund/state9308.html (accessed 3 June, 2014).Google Scholar
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, http://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/area/korea/bunka/index.html (accessed 20 June 2014).Google Scholar
Minow, Martha (1998), Between Vengeance and Forgiveness: Facing History after Genocide and Mass Violence, Boston: Beacon Press.Google Scholar
Montville, Joseph (1991), ‘Track Two Diplomacy: The Arrow and the Olive Branch’, The Psychodynamics of International Relations, Vol. 2.Google Scholar
NHK Chōsa Hokoku (NHK Investigation Report) (1992), Athuma Kara No Utae [Litigation from Athuma], Broadcast in August 1992.Google Scholar
Nobles, Melissa (2008), The Politics of Official Apologies, New York: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Park, Cheol Hee (2008), ‘Cooperation Coupled with Conflicts: Korea–Japan Relations in the Post-Cold War Era’, Asia-Pacific Review, 15 (2).Google Scholar
Anne, Phillips (ed.) (1998) Feminism and Politics, New York: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Rienner, Lynneet al. (2004) ‘The Nature of Reconciliation as an Outcome and as a Process’, in Bar Siman-Tov, Y. (ed.), From Conflict Resolution to Reconciliation, Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 11‒38.Google Scholar
Rix, Alan (1990), Japan's Aid Program: A New Global Agenda, Canberra: Australian Government Publishing.Google Scholar
Ross, M. H. (2004) ‘Ritual and the politics of reconciliation’, in Bar Siman-Tov, Y (ed.), From Conflict Resolution to Reconciliation, Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 197‒224.Google Scholar
Scheff, Thomas (1994), Bloody Revenge: Emotions, Nationalism, and War, Boulder, CO: Westview Press.Google Scholar
Soh, C.-H. (2001), Japan's Responsibility Toward Comfort Women Survivors, Oakland, CA: Japan Policy Research Institute.Google Scholar
Suh, J. J. (2007), ‘War-like History or Diplomatic History? Contentions Over the Past and Regional Orders in Northeast Asia’, Australian Journal of International Affairs, 61 (3): 382–402.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tavuchis, Nicholas (1991), Mea Culp: A Sociology of Apology and Reconciliation, Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press.Google Scholar
The Franco-German Youth Office (Office Franco-Allemand pour la Jeunesse), http://www.ofaj.org/english-version (accessed 14 June 2014).Google Scholar
The Japan Foundation, http://www.jpf.go.jp/e/jenesys/culture/exhibit/ (accessed 24 June 2014).Google Scholar
Ueno, Chijuko (2008), ‘Asia Yŏsŭng kigŭmŭi yŭksajŭk chongkwal’ [Historical Overview on the Asian Women's Fund], in Korea–Japanese Coalition (ed.), Hanil yŭksa nonjaeng ŭimetahistori [Meta history of Historical Controversy of Korea-Japan], Seoul: Puriwaipari.Google Scholar
United States Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, ‘About the Bureau’, Washington, DC.Google Scholar
Utsumi, Aiko (2010), Jŭnhu bosangŭro sangkakhanŭn ilbonkwa asia [Thinking about Japan and Asia through Post-War Reparations], Seoul: Nonhyŭng.Google Scholar
Villa-Vicencio, C. (1999), ‘A Different Kind of Justice: The South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission’, Contemporary Justice Review, 1: 407‒28.Google Scholar
Wall, David (1973), The Charity of Nations: The Political Economy of Foreign Aid, London: Macmillan.Google Scholar
Woo, SeungJi (2003), ‘Naengjunki Hankook Ilbon Hyopryokeui Puzul’ [Puzzle of Korea–Japan Cooperation in the Cold War], Hankook Jongchi Hakhwoibo [Korean Journal of Political Science], 37 (3): 129–50.Google Scholar
Yamazaki, Jane (2006), Japanese Apologies for World War II: A Rhetorical Study, New York: Routledge.Google Scholar
Yonhap News. (2011), ‘It's time to open to Japanese TV’, http://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=sec&sid1=103&oid=001&aid=0004928028 (accessed 24 February 2015).Google Scholar
Yoon, Tae Ryong (2006), ‘Searching for a New Paradigm for Korea‒Japan Relations’, KukjeKwankyeYonku, 12 (2): 169‒205.Google Scholar
Yoshibumi, Wakamiya (1999), The Postwar Conservative View of Asia, Tokyo: LTCB International Library Foundation.Google Scholar
Young, James E. (1993), The Texture of Memory: Holocaust Memorials and Meaning, New Haven: Yale University Press.Google Scholar