Park Jin on 'President Yoon's Visit to Japan': "Nothing Decided... Conditions Must Be Created"

"Continuous Efforts to Restore Shuttle Diplomacy"

Foreign Minister Park Jin delivers a congratulatory speech at the Korea-Japan International Cooperation Promotion and Relationship Improvement Seminar held at the Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 28th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hee-jun] Foreign Minister Park Jin dismissed the prospect of President Yoon Seok-yeol's visit to Japan within this year, saying, "Nothing has been decided." He also expressed the view that certain conditions need to be created to resume shuttle diplomacy between Korea and Japan.

After attending a seminar titled "Measures to Promote International Cooperation and Improve Relations between Korea and Japan," hosted by the Korea-Japan Friendship Association Central Committee at the Seoul Press Center on the afternoon of the 28th, Minister Park told reporters in response to questions about the president's plan to visit Japan within the year, "Nothing has been decided," and emphasized, "We will continue efforts to restore shuttle diplomacy."

When asked, "Do you think shuttle diplomacy can be resumed even without a guarantee that the forced labor issue will be resolved upon visiting Japan?" he replied, "It is possible only if various conditions are created," adding, "It is important to prepare solutions for pending issues and create an environment where Korea-Japan relations can improve, and we are continuously working toward that."

The "pending issue" Minister Park referred to is the forced labor compensation issue, the biggest challenge between Korea and Japan. This implies that certain conditions, such as progress in ongoing diplomatic consultations between the two countries regarding the forced labor issue, need to mature.

In his congratulatory remarks that day, he reiterated, "I hope the Japanese side will respond sincerely to the Korean government's genuine efforts," and emphasized, "It is important to face the past and develop Korea-Japan relations in a future-oriented manner based on mutual understanding and trust."

Minister Park also pointed out, "Korea and Japan are neighboring countries that share universal values including democracy and market economy." Referring to the proverb "The ground hardens after rain," he said, "I hope the two countries will leave behind difficult times and build a stable new partnership based on trust."

This is interpreted as expressing the recognition that amid current changes in the international situation, Korea and Japan, sharing values and facing various common challenges, need to strategically cooperate with each other.

Koichi Aiboshi, Ambassador of Japan to Korea, also expressed in his congratulatory remarks that "Korea and Japan are important neighboring countries that must cooperate to address various challenges in the international community," mentioning that the two countries face similar issues such as low birthrate, aging population, and regional revitalization. When asked about President Yoon's potential visit to Japan within this year, he responded that it could happen suddenly at any time but said, "I do not know of any concrete plans."