Changes in foreign policy toward Japan that I would like to expect from Mr. Yoon Seok-you, who will become president
(Ocerabi: Writer / Columnist)
The 20th presidential election of the Republic of Korea is over. In the presidential election held on March 9, Yoon Seok-yeol, a candidate of the opposition party and the people’s power, was elected with the smallest vote difference in successive presidential elections. The difference between the ruling party and the Democratic Party of Korea candidate Lee Jae-myung was 247,077 votes, a difference of only 0.73 points.
President-elect Yoon Seok-you, who will take office on May 10, this year, has a lot of national affairs. Both Democratic Party of Korea failed to maintain its power, but they are huge opposition parties with 172 seats, which is more than half of the parliament. The reality that the Democratic Party of Korea is in control of parliamentary power, administrative power, and local autonomy is an obstacle for President-elect Yoon to manage national affairs smoothly.
The most important of these is how President-elect Yoon will develop a foreign policy toward Japan.
The Moon Jae-in Government’s diplomatic and security policy has been biased toward pro-North Korea and pro-Chinese since its inauguration, and its relationship with Japan was the worst. Anti-Japanese sentiment, which can be said to be a political incitement, has put Japan-South Korea relations in the worst situation. The trade dispute that began in July 2019 and the long-standing issues of comfort women, recruitment workers, and Dokdo (Takeshima) dispute. Above all, the trade dispute ignited anti-Japanese sentiment.
Looking back on those days, the boycott of Japanese products began, and “NoJapan” was sweeping Korean society. In 2018, the Supreme Court of South Korea ruled for compensation for recruitment workers and decided to seize the assets of Nippon Steel (formerly Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal). Diplomatic and political conflicts between the two countries were intensifying, including restrictions on imports of Fukushima-produced seafood. Meanwhile, on July 1, 2019, Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry announced restrictions on exports of materials used in semiconductors and displays to South Korea.
The trade dispute provided an excuse for anti-Japanese incitement to the forces leading the Moon Jae-in government’s foreign policy. As the no-Japan movement continued for nearly a year, those who criticized the policy were accused of being labeled as “Chinilpa.” The anti-Japanese incitement worked in favor of the ruling party and the Democratic Party of Korea, both of which won the parliamentary election in April 2020.
