동북아 文化공동체 구상과 韓中日 역사ㆍ외교분쟁

Northeast Asian Cultural Community and Korea-China-Japan Historical & Diplomatic Disputes

In order to form a Northeast Asian community, this community should be based on mutual trust among countries whether it is about cultural, economic or security issues. And to build the mutual trust, the countries must firmly oppose the ideology of supremacy, invasion, and great-power chauvinism. For instance, if South Korea, China and Japan try to found a cultural community despite of their historical and diplomatic disputes, the countries shall be involved more actively in launching a joint history committee or publishing a joint history textbook. This allows the countries working from the basis towards building the community. That means the foundation for the cultural shall be established. In conclusion, I would like to make concrete suggestions to establish the Northeast Asian cultural community in spite of the historical and diplomatic disputes. First of all, a joint history committee needs to be launched. Although the economic cooperation and exchange are active in Northeast Asia, the efforts to create the community can easily be fruitless if the conflict on historical and territorial issues is intense. The problems of historical and territorial issues, such as China’s Northeast Asian Project and territorial issues between Korea and China, Japan’s worship at Yasukuni Shrine and problems of comfort women and Dokdo between Korea and Japan, and other issues of distorted history textbook and territory between China and Japan, shall be resolved peacefully. By approaching to resolve problems through dialogue, the countries will be able to share the historical recognition. And launching a systematic joint history committee and using it as the channel, Korea, China and Japan can find a clue to resolve historical and territorial problems. In addition, this has the purpose to lay the framework for historical recognition that denies invasion and supremacy. Secondly, there should be a joint expedition of Korean, Chinese and Japanese teenagers to historic sites. By allowing teenagers from Korea, China and Japan jointly visit the historic sites in Northeast Asia, they get a chance to reflect on the past that is stained with invasion and supremacy, and also to look into the sites where people cooperate and exchange each other, which will eventually provide a great help to share the historical recognition for the future generation. Even though civic groups organize ‘Historic Experience Camp for teenagers from Korea, China and Japan,’ the governments from the three countries should be involved in and support, so that many teenagers get an opportunity to participate in it.