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On the 6th of this month, Park Jin, Minister of Foreign Affairs (equivalent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs), held a press conference to announce a solution to the former forced labor lawsuit. It officially announced that a foundation under the South Korean government would take over the compensation of a Japanese company that lost a lawsuit at the South Korean Supreme Court. The funds were to be covered by 'voluntary donations' from companies, including POSCO, a major Korean steel company that benefited from Japan's economic cooperation based on the 1965 Japan-Korea Claims and Economic Cooperation Agreement, and the Korea Highway Corporation. Korea Railroad Corporation, Korea Electric Power Corporation and other 16 companies are expected. On the other hand, it does not presuppose that the defendant's Japanese company will contribute funds. So far, 15 plaintiffs have won their lawsuits in Supreme Court rulings, and the damages are said to be about 4 billion won (about 420 million yen), including late interest. If the plaintiff wins the lawsuit, the lawsuit currently pending will be dealt with in the same way.
At a press conference, Minister Park announced the solution, saying that Japan-South Korea cooperation is extremely important in all areas, including the economy and security. We should break the circle of "I hope that Japan will work together to overcome the unfortunate history of the past and develop a future-oriented relationship based on reconciliation, good-neighborly friendship and cooperation," he said.
In response to South Korea's announcement of a solution, Prime Minister Kishida said, "The South Korean government is also making various efforts. I hope that this will lead to strengthening Japan-South Korea relations and moving forward vigorously" emphasizing that "I would like to cherish close communication" with President Yoon.
According to multiple media reports in Japan and South Korea, arrangements are underway for President Yoon to visit Japan on the 16th and 17th of this month and hold a summit meeting with Prime Minister Kishida. At a press conference on the 6th, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno only said, "The future diplomatic schedule between the leaders of Japan and South Korea has not been decided." He said that he would like to have a meeting with President Yoon later next week. Regarding the summit, Yamaguchi said, "I hope that Japan-South Korea relations will further deepen and develop."
JoongAng Ilbo, a South Korean newspaper, pointed out the possibility of a revival of "Japan-South Korea shuttle diplomacy." Japan-Korea shuttle diplomacy is a program in which the Japanese prime minister and the South Korean president visit each other once a year to discuss issues between the two countries. Originally intended to be held casually in a resort area, it was held on Cheju Island in July 2004 between then-Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and President Roh Moo-hyun. Afterwards, the two leaders met repeatedly in Ibusuki City, Kagoshima Prefecture in December 2004, and in Seoul City in June 2005. once abolished. After that, it was revived between President Lee Myung-bak (Lee Myung-bak) and Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda in 2008. It became a back-and-forth over the comfort women issue, and was subsequently discontinued. President Park Geun-hye did not visit Japan, and President Moon Jae-in agreed with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to resume the trip, but it did not come to fruition.
In an interview with JoongAng Ilbo, an official from the South Korean presidential office said, "We haven't started discussing President Yoon's visit to Japan and a summit meeting with Prime Minister Kishida," and mentioned Japan-South Korea shuttle diplomacy. "It has been 12 years since the visits between the South Korean and Japanese leaders leading up to the South Korea-Japan summit were suspended. The possibilities are open," he said.
With a view to resuming shuttle diplomacy, there is growing momentum for more active exchanges in the future.
2023/03/10 12:46 KST
