최근의 한일 관계와 식민지책임의 추궁

Recent Korea-Japan Relationship and Demand for Colonial Responsibility

This paper includes discussion of colonial responsibility in Korea for Japanese military sexual slavery issue and proposal for further necessary actions for asking colonial responsibility with consideration of recent strain between Korea and Japan. In August of 2011, Constitutional Court found Korean government’s diplomatic forbearance against Japanese military sexual slavery unconstitutional. Also, Supreme Court concluded that ‘general colonization responsibilities’ including forced labor were unresolved and found Japan’s colonization itself illegitimate. Korean Department of Justice made demanding of colonial responsibility public and Korean-Japan treaty of 1965 proved its limits. Korea-Japan treaty of 1965 concerning the settlement of problems in regard to property and claims and economic cooperation stated that Korean government propose Japanese government a arbitration committee to resolve ‘Japanese military sexual slavery’ issue. However, both government have been passive towards the issue and with the intensifying historical conflict, relationship between the two countries is going downhill without a single summit talk. This paper proposes the solution that discussion on related issues must precede composition of arbitration committee, which could dispel doubts of the victims and pressurize the Japanese government. In short term, both governments should agree upon opening objective and professional discussion on historical issues and Korean government should make an official statement on colonial responsibility. Lastly, both country’s societies must cooperate on composition of ‘East Asian Truth and Reconciliation Commission’ for resolution of colonial responsibility.