60 Years of Normalization of ROK-Japan Diplomatic Relations: Achievements and Challenges

60 Years of Normalization of ROK-Japan Diplomatic Relations: Achievements and Challenges

"1. Achievements and Current Status over 60 Years of Normalization of Diplomatic Relations This year, 2025, marks the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Korea (ROK) and Japan. The ROK and Japan normalized their diplomatic relations by signing the Treaty on Basic Relations between ROK and Japan in June 1965. During the Cold War, the United States sought to establish a liberal bloc within East Asia, centered on Japan, to counter the communist bloc, toward which it pursued the normalization of ROK-Japan relations. Following its loss in World War II, Japan needed to resolve postwar issues through normalization of diplomatic relations with the ROK, while the ROK was in dire need of foreign capital necessary for its economic growth. Against this background, ROK-Japan diplomatic relations were normalized in 1965. Since the normalization of diplomatic relations in 1965, the ROK and Japan have maintained close relations in various fields such as politics, economy, civil society, and culture while sharing the values of liberalism and market economy. Around 2000, the ROK abolished import restrictions on Japanese popular culture, which expanded opportunities for cultural exchange between the two countries. As of December 2023, Japan is the ROK's fourth-largest trading partner and the ROK is Japan's fifth-largest trading partner, maintaining close economic relations. In terms of personal exchanges, as of 2023, there are approximately 410,000 residents of Korean nationality and 24,000 residents of Korean lineage (Chōsen-seki) in Japan, with an additional approximately 58,000 Koreans staying long-term in Japan. Among foreign tourists visiting the ROK in the first half of 2024, Japanese ranked second after Chinese, and among foreign tourists visiting Japan during the same period, the ROK ranked first. In the political realm, since the Yoon Suk Yeol government proposed a ""third-party reimbursement"" plan to solve the issue of compensation for forced labor in March 2023, bilateral relations at the government level have rapidly eased and trilateral cooperation between the ROK, US, and Japan has also solidified. However, remaining social conflicts between the ROK and Japan over historical issues such as the comfort women issue, forced labor during the Japanese colonial period, and visits to the Yasukuni Shrine by Japanese officials have not yet been resolved, and continue to have negative impact on exchanges and cooperation in other areas. 2. Changes in Circumstances surrounding ROK-Japan Relations Recently, there are considerable changes occurring in the environment surrounding the relationship between the two countries. First, as the strategic competition between the United States and China intensifies, we have entered a so-called era of US-China strategic competition, which is having a significant impact on the entire international order. The ROK and Japan have close relations with both the United States and China, and are being significantly affected. In addition, as the climate crisis is recognized as a serious threat to the survival of mankind, efforts are being made in the international community to suppress the rise in global-average temperature, starting with the Framework Convention on Climate Change (FCCC) in 1992, the Kyoto Protocol in 1997, and the 2015 Paris Agreement. In particular, efforts to promote a green transformation (GX) that can realize carbon neutrality have become essential for each country. In addition, with the rapid development of science and technology, also known as the 4th Industrial Revolution, almost all areas of society are transitioning from the existing analog system to a digital system, with the success of this digital transformation (DX) directly related to the sustainability of national development. In addition, the importance of the East Asian region, where the ROK and Japan are located, is increasing.

"1. Achievements and Current Status over 60 Years of Normalization of Diplomatic Relations This year, 2025, marks the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Korea (ROK) and Japan. The ROK and Japan normalized their diplomatic relations by signing the Treaty on Basic Relations between ROK and Japan in June 1965. During the Cold War, the United States sought to establish a liberal bloc within East Asia, centered on Japan, to counter the communist bloc, toward which it pursued the normalization of ROK-Japan relations. Following its loss in World War II, Japan needed to resolve postwar issues through normalization of diplomatic relations with the ROK, while the ROK was in dire need of foreign capital necessary for its economic growth. Against this background, ROK-Japan diplomatic relations were normalized in 1965. Since the normalization of diplomatic relations in 1965, the ROK and Japan have maintained close relations in various fields such as politics, economy, civil society, and culture while sharing the values of liberalism and market economy. Around 2000, the ROK abolished import restrictions on Japanese popular culture, which expanded opportunities for cultural exchange between the two countries. As of December 2023, Japan is the ROK's fourth-largest trading partner and the ROK is Japan's fifth-largest trading partner, maintaining close economic relations. In terms of personal exchanges, as of 2023, there are approximately 410,000 residents of Korean nationality and 24,000 residents of Korean lineage (Chōsen-seki) in Japan, with an additional approximately 58,000 Koreans staying long-term in Japan. Among foreign tourists visiting the ROK in the first half of 2024, Japanese ranked second after Chinese, and among foreign tourists visiting Japan during the same period, the ROK ranked first. In the political realm, since the Yoon Suk Yeol government proposed a ""third-party reimbursement"" plan to solve the issue of compensation for forced labor in March 2023, bilateral relations at the government level have rapidly eased and trilateral cooperation between the ROK, US, and Japan has also solidified. However, remaining social conflicts between the ROK and Japan over historical issues such as the comfort women issue, forced labor during the Japanese colonial period, and visits to the Yasukuni Shrine by Japanese officials have not yet been resolved, and continue to have negative impact on exchanges and cooperation in other areas. 2. Changes in Circumstances surrounding ROK-Japan Relations Recently, there are considerable changes occurring in the environment surrounding the relationship between the two countries. First, as the strategic competition between the United States and China intensifies, we have entered a so-called era of US-China strategic competition, which is having a significant impact on the entire international order. The ROK and Japan have close relations with both the United States and China, and are being significantly affected. In addition, as the climate crisis is recognized as a serious threat to the survival of mankind, efforts are being made in the international community to suppress the rise in global-average temperature, starting with the Framework Convention on Climate Change (FCCC) in 1992, the Kyoto Protocol in 1997, and the 2015 Paris Agreement. In particular, efforts to promote a green transformation (GX) that can realize carbon neutrality have become essential for each country. In addition, with the rapid development of science and technology, also known as the 4th Industrial Revolution, almost all areas of society are transitioning from the existing analog system to a digital system, with the success of this digital transformation (DX) directly related to the sustainability of national development. In addition, the importance of the East Asian region, where the ROK and Japan are located, is increasing.