Anti-Japanese sentiment in South Korea appears to be reaching new extremes, as an enormous amount of energy is spent to spread groundless criticism pertaining to the disputed Takeshima islets (called Dokto in Korean) and the so-called “comfort women.” To the extent that they are unable to face up to Japan squarely in discussing these issues logically, the South Koreans are resorting to emotionalism in an effort to spread charges against Japan across the international community. In this burst of jingoism, historical facts are overlooked as resolutions condemning Japan are adopted in some American townships and the suitability of erecting memorials to the “comfort women” is debated.

　　　I found a recent statement by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon to be particularly shocking. Meeting the press in Seoul on August 26th, Ban criticized Japan by observing that Japanese political leaders must conduct “very deep introspection.” Answering questions relating to perceptions of history on the part of Japanese government leaders and the territorial (Takeshima) issue, Ban said: “It is important to have an accurate perception of history. In that way one can earn the respect and trust of others.”

　　　Mr. Ban, Secretary General of the United Nations and a South Korean citizen, expressed his unilateral opinion regarding an issue that is a cause of a bitter confrontation between two nations. This plainly constitutes a lack of neutrality. Such a statement naturally makes one hesitate for a moment to regard South Korea and its people as politically mature; after all, Ban is the highest ranking UN official and should be expected to practice fairness under all circumstances. This he clearly failed to.

　　　Japan and South Korea tend to slip into mutual mistrust from time to time, despite the fact that amiable bilateral relations are to the benefit of both countries. Therefore, we in Japan must seriously grapple with the question of how to go about seeking better relations with Seoul. On August 23rd, I had a chance to invite Mr. Hong Hyung, visiting professor at Tokyo’s Obirin University, as a guest to an Internet TV show I host to discuss this matter. Prof. Hong, who just returned from a visit to Seoul, once served as a minister at the South Korean embassy in Japan.

　　　Prof. Hong reminded me that the anti-Japanism in South Korea is in fact present in a different dimension from what is reported in Japan, urging me to first come to grips with the fact that his nation is caught up in a fierce “South Korea vs anti-South Korea” internal conflict. Only then can we begin to understand South Korea’s anti-Japanism.

　　　“In South Korea today, political priorities are in disarray,” explained Prof. Hong. “Members of the main opposition Democratic Party have deserted the national assembly to take to the streets to carry on their struggle against the incumbent administration. Unable to come to terms with the results of last year’s presidential election, in which Park Guen-Hye narrowly beat her pro-Pyongyang opponent, they have resorted to continuous demonstrations in an effort to sway the Park administration, following Pyongyang’s instructions. Almost immediately after Park won the election, the North began intimidating the South with threats to launch inter-continental ballistic missiles as well as conduct nuclear tests. In point of fact, the North may succeed in miniaturizing nuclear warheads and mount them atop missiles almost any time. They also have been launching persistent cyber attacks on the South. And yet the South Korean opposition camp dares not try to fight the enemy, persistently jeopardizing the Park administration. Why?”

Perverted Axis of Values

　　　Prof. Hong declared that the war on the Korean Peninsula “which has lasted for too long” is the very reason for the inability of the South Koreans to judge things properly. Since 1945, when Korea was divided by the US and the Soviet Union, a war-like situation has continued to prevail, he explained. The Korean War, which began in 1950, has yet to end, as only a truce was declared. Because the abnormal daily routine of “fighting” has lasted for 68 long years across every strata of society of both Koreas, the values of South Korean society have been perverted, according to the professor.

　　　If what Prof. Hong points out is true, then aren’t we Japanese also witnessing a perversion of our own values, although in the opposite direction? Over these past 68 years, we have become a people incapable of safeguarding the nation and its citizens on our own, savoring a peace which has been protected by the US under the terms of the US-Japan Security Treaty.

　　　“Under this war-like situation which has lasted in South Korea for too long, there has developed a “Stockholm syndrome” – a phenomenon sometimes seen in victims of kidnapping,” noted Prof. Hong. “After a certain lapse of time, the kidnapped start feeling friendship toward the kidnapper, with the former becoming unable to recognize what constitutes a real threat and who their adversaries are.”

　　　Unquestionably, the real threat to South Korea is North Korea, with China close behind it. And yet President Park turns to Beijing, while the opposition never refrains from attacking her. In the meantime, North Korean elements have infiltrated the hub of the government party, exercising influence over the government as an undercover force drafting and implementing policies reflecting Pyongyang’s intentions. As a typical example, Prof. Hong cited the secret minutes of the North-South summit between Roh Mo-Hyung and Kim Jong-Il in 2007, which were released only recently.

　　　Although President Roh had intended to keep the minutes sealed for 30 years, the National Intelligence Service (NIS) released the documents in full in June in response to growing calls across the nation starting last year and at the beginning of this year. As a result, it was finally made public that Roh was virtually handing over South Korea to the North in a bloodless coup as he talked to Kim in a shockingly ignominious manner that made him look like a subordinate of the communist dictator. It was also revealed that copies of the minutes, which should logically have been kept at the president’s office, were all secretly discarded. The released copies belonged to the NIS.

　　　“Roh’s remarks to Kim certainly were a blatant betrayal of South Korea,” stressed Prof. Hong. “The minutes should have been released in accordance with the freedom of information act, and the Democratic Party, which had supported the Roh administration and the president at the time, should have been held responsible. For some strange reason, however, criticism has been concentrated on Nam Jae-Joon, the head of the NIS who took steps to make the minutes public. At a time when North Korea may field nuclear missiles almost anytime, our national assembly is clamoring to discharge the NIS chief and our mass media are all for it. This is absolutely insane.”

　　　The same thing can be said about South Korea’s irrelevant charges against Japan. In addition to irrational accusations of Japan in connection with issues relating to “comfort women,” the South Korean Supreme Court has rendered a decision ruling that Koreans are entitled to compensations for forced war-time labor from Japanese companies such as Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation.

　　　In 1965, South Korea and Japan settled war reparation issues involving South Korean nationals (as well as corporations) once and for all under the terms of the Japan-Republic of Korea Basic Relations Treaty, which normalized their diplomatic relations after lengthy negotiations. Nevertheless, South Korea’s judiciary system has rendered a decision tantamount to violating a legitimate international treaty.

Yield Not Even One Millimeter

　　　There is absolutely no need for Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal to pay even a yen for a case that has been resolved completely and finally. The Japanese government must definitely come to the fore in defense of Japanese corporations in South Korea, especially at this juncture.

　　　Observed Prof. Hong:

　　　“The South Korean government has repeatedly stated that this matter has long been resolved. And I suspect it still feels that way. In point of fact, it is the judiciary system as well as the judges that claim otherwise.”

　　　The South Koreans in general are eager to safeguard democracy and the rule of law, stressed Prof. Hong. Betraying a deep sense of crisis for his country and its people, Prof. Hong noted that these happenings in today’s South Korea may be difficult for the Japanese to understand, having lived in peace for too long.

　　　“Bills violating the South Korean constitution have been passed into law one after another,” noted Prof. Hong. “For instance, the Korean judiciary has come up with a succession of retroactive laws in the past 20 years in order to acquit North Korean operatives captured by the South. One such operative is Shin Gwang-Su, known for the abduction of Takaaki Hara, who was a cook at a small Chinese eatery in Miyazaki Prefecture.”

　　　A most unusual situation has developed in South Korea these past 20 years, since the days of Presidents Kim Young-Sam and Kim Dae-Jung, with South Korea successively releasing North Korean operatives. Prof. Hong indicated that this reflects a process through which a sovereign state called South Korea has gradually been subverted by the North.

　　　Against such a backdrop, Prof. Hong brushes aside as “a trifling matter” the fact that Japan has become a target of hate of the South Koreans. Surely, we in Japan must react coolly and resolutely to the tough situation involving the “internal war” South Korea is faced with as we contemplate a realistic policy towards the Korean Peninsula. This situation is truly precarious, perhaps even reminiscent of the eve of the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-95.

　　　Under such circumstances, we must tackle South Korea’s demand for compensation for war-time forced labor as a critical issue, bearing in mind that accepting such an illegal verdict would be a nightmare forever affecting our nation’s integrity. Clearly, we must not yield a millimeter, literally speaking, at this juncture. The Japanese government is strongly urged to recognize the seriousness of this matter, and swiftly announce a definitive rebuttal based on international law.

 (Translated from “Renaissance Japan” column no. 572 in the September 5, 2013 issue of The Weekly Shincho)