Advertisement
South Korea
OpinionComment
William Choong
William Choong

Opinion | South Korea and Japan must break the cycle of hate and move on for the region’s good, as US power wanes

Tokyo and Seoul have sought to resolve their latest dispute, but they need to address deep-rooted issues that threaten the strategic balance of the region. One side needs to show genuine contrition and the other side needs to forgive

Reading Time:4 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
South Korean protesters tear a huge Japanese flag during a rally in Seoul on August 15 marking the anniversary of Korea’s liberation from Japan’s colonial rule. Photo: AFP
William Choong
About two years ago, while chairing a panel discussion on Asia-Pacific security, I made a comment about how an agreement between the United States, Japan and South Korea on sharing intelligence about North Korea was a net positive for the region. 
Advertisement

The discussion ended, and as scholars are wont to do, I ambled out of the room for a well-deserved coffee break. I was approached by a South Korean naval officer, who told me his minister would like to have a word.

Surrounded by a phalanx of officers, the minister gave me more than a word. He told me the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) was more about enhancing cooperation with the US, not Japan. The deal had been made on intelligence sharing among the three allies, and not due to any amity with Japan.

The minister’s comments underscore the depth of South Korean resentment against Japan, particularly over its colonisation of South Korea.

Recently, the US’ top allies in Asia have seen their bilateral relationship go into a tailspin. Earlier this month, Japan removed South Korea from a list of countries with preferential trade status. This drew swift retaliation from Seoul, which removed Tokyo from a similar list. The coup de grâce was delivered last Thursday when South Korea ended GSOMIA.
The latest row between the two countries was triggered by a South Korean court decision allowing individuals to sue Japanese companies for compensation for wartime forced labour.
Advertisement