사진 확대 Former Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba gives a interview with Maeil Business Newspaper at the office of the 2nd House of Representatives in Chiyoda-gu, Tokyo, on the 31st of last month. Tokyo correspondent Lee Yoo-seop
Since the inauguration of the Lee Jae Myung government and the Takaichi Sanae Cabinet, Korea-Japan relations have ostensibly enjoyed a stronger honeymoon than ever. However, the reality is that businessmen and citizens of both countries are still unable to take anxious eyes as if walking on thin ice due to the learning effects of the past, which led to diplomatic confrontation in an instant.
On whether the current relationship between Korea and Japan is sustainable, former Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba affirmed, “We are in a good relationship now, but we cannot guarantee that this will continue.” Recalling the past days of Kim Dae Jung’s president and Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi, he pointed out, “Although the relationship was very good at the time, there is a history of being greatly shaken by regime change or political environment.” He warned, “If the two countries do not have a structural and deep understanding of each other beyond superficial favor, the current warmth can cool down at any time.”
◆ The understanding of the history of the two countries should come first
Former Prime Minister Ishiba pointed out the “in-depth understanding of Korea” of the people of the two countries, especially Japan, as the biggest weakness of Korea-Japan relations. “Compared to visitors to Japan from Korea, only one-third of the number of people going from Japan to Korea,” he said. “Compared to what Koreans know about Japan, less than a third of what Japanese know about Korea.”
In addition, he said, “Although more and more people in Japan like Korea, they usually remain in sensuous favor such as ‘Korean food is delicious’ or ‘K-pop is good,’ and added, “I like Korea based on a deep understanding of history, culture, and social background, and I never do.”
In particular, former Prime Minister Ishiba expressed his conviction on historical issues. “I personally know how deeply the annexation of Korea and Japan in the past has hurt the hearts of Koreans,” he said, adding, “It is obligatory for Japanese politicians and society to continue to make efforts until Koreans feel, ‘The Japanese understand us deeply.’ Former Prime Minister Ishiba is considered a Korean-friendly politician who reads books containing Korea’s history and situation for two to three hours a day, and a representative “Socinist” politician who is different from conservative hard-liners in the party.
◆ “President Li is a pragmatist”
Former Prime Minister Ishiba praised the leadership of the current president of Lee Jae Myung, while citing “change in policy toward Japan due to regime change in Korea” as one of the biggest risks undermining the sustainability of Korea-Japan relations.
“In the past, when the regime changed in Korea, the perspective on Japan changed significantly,” he recalled. “When the Yoon Suk Yeol regime was replaced by the Lee Jae Myung regime, there were many concerns within Japan that the relationship with Japan would deteriorate again as it did during the Moon Jae In regime.” However, he said, “I was similarly worried because I had never met President Lee in person, but as a result, it was ‘unwanted’.”
Referring to President Lee’s political trajectory and leadership style, former Prime Minister Ishiba said, “President Lee was not from the traditional mainstream of Korean politics, and he was not influenced by large political factions. He has innovative ideas, but he is very realistic and practical in actual state administration and policy execution.” He added, “I respect him as a very outstanding politician who leads the current situation.”
◆ Social discontent can’t go half a day
Former Prime Minister Ishiba analyzed that fierce competition and polarization in Korean society could affect Korea-Japan relations.
“Korea has gained great confidence as its per capita gross domestic product (GDP) has reached the level of seven major countries (G7), but it is another matter that each person is happy,” he said. He also pointed out that Koreans’ happiness is lower than that of Japanese or Chinese. Former Prime Minister Ishiba analyzed, “This is because Korean society has anxiety that it cannot be happy if it falls behind in fierce competition.”
This is where former Prime Minister Ishiba is concerned. Complaints accumulated in the fierce competition of Korean society can turn to anti-Japanese sentiment that “everything is to blame, of course, Japan.” He stressed, “Politicians from both countries should gather wisdom so that the complaints of life felt by the Korean people are not distorted into feelings against Japan.”
◆ The first priority of cooperation is the risk of population decline and extinction
To overcome this uncertainty and structural risk, the top strategic cooperation area between South Korea and Japan proposed by former Prime Minister Ishiba is the “population reduction” that the two countries face in common. “Of course, securing semiconductors, artificial intelligence (AI), and supply chains is very important, and there are many areas to cooperate based on the excellent technology and diligence of the two countries,” former Prime Minister Ishiba said. “However, the sense of crisis that the country itself will disappear if we fail to prevent the population decline is the most urgent problem for both Korea and Japan.”
In particular, he pointed out the seriousness of the problem, pointing out the extreme concentration of the metropolitan area to Seoul and Tokyo, the dismantling of provincial cities, and the lowest birth rate ever. Former Prime Minister Ishiba said, “The previous governments of Korea and Japan have taken various measures, but they have not been able to put a brake on the population decline.” He then said, “In a situation where the existence of the country itself is threatened by the widening gap between the provinces and the metropolitan area, joint research and policy cooperation at the private and government levels are the most urgent strategic tasks for South Korea and Japan.”
[Tokyo correspondent Lee Yoo Seob]