[The Editors' Verdict] Surely, We Won't Be Left Empty-Handed

President Yoon's March 1st Speech
Last-Ditch Effort to Build Trust with Japan
Japan-Korea Summit Must Not End Empty-Handed

Why was it specifically the March 1st Movement anniversary speech? This thought came to mind upon first hearing President Yoon Suk-yeol's remark that "Japan is a cooperative partner." On the day commemorating the March 1st Movement, which marked the beginning of the independence movement against Japanese imperialism, President Yoon said, "Japan has transformed from a militaristic invader of the past to a partner sharing universal values with us, cooperating in security, economy, and global agendas." The opposition parties launched a barrage of criticism, calling it a "March 1st Movement blasphemy."

The opposition's anticipated attack on President Yoon's March 1st remarks was clarified after meeting a senior ruling party official in a private setting recently. This official said that the 2018 Supreme Court's final ruling confirming compensation for victims of forced labor under Japanese rule made "South Korea appear as a liar in the international community at that time." Although the four victims of forced labor in South Korea lost in both the first and second trials against the Japanese companies responsible, the Supreme Court overturned the ruling, which led to South Korea losing trust in the international community.

Fumio Kishida, the current Japanese Prime Minister, served as Japan's Foreign Minister during the Park Geun-hye administration in 2015 and led the Korea-Japan comfort women negotiations. Although the negotiations succeeded in reaching an agreement between the two countries, the deal was stalled due to opposition in South Korea, including comfort women grandmothers refusing compensation. President Yoon seems to have wanted to use the sensitive March 1st anniversary, a key point in Korea-Japan relations, to demonstrate sincerity in improving relations and to dispel distrust.

In fact, the government accelerated Korea-Japan relations improvement by announcing a solution to the forced labor compensation issue immediately after President Yoon's March 1st anniversary speech. This so-called "third-party compensation plan" involves voluntary donations from Korean and Japanese companies to compensate forced labor victims. Following immediate welcoming statements from Japan and the United States, the Korea-Japan summit scheduled for the 16th of this month and President Yoon's state visit to the United States on the 26th of next month were swiftly agreed upon.

However, the 2018 Supreme Court final ruling, which appears to be the background of President Yoon's March 1st remarks, was a case that the Supreme Court had overturned and remanded in 2012 during the Lee Myung-bak administration. During the Park Geun-hye administration, the issue was avoided by delaying the forced labor trials through judicial dealings with Chief Justice Yang Sung-tae. Korea and Japan have dragged the forced labor compensation issue for 25 years due to differing interpretations of the 1965 Korea-Japan Claims Agreement.

President Yoon's decision to improve Korea-Japan relations, calling it a "decision for the future," is a late but courageous choice. However, there is regret about whether this breakthrough should have been made at a ceremony honoring the patriotic martyrs who sacrificed for the independence movement.

What is even more concerning is the backlash following the Korea-Japan summit. Yang Geum-deok, a 94-year-old victim of forced labor under Japanese rule, clearly opposed the government's "third-party compensation plan," saying, "Even if I starve to death, I will never accept that money." Public opinion is also negative. President Yoon's approval rating has been declining since the forced labor compensation solution was announced.

Foreign Minister Park Jin said at the beginning of this month when announcing the forced labor solution, "If we compare it to a glass of water, the glass is more than half full," adding, "Depending on Japan's sincere response, the glass is expected to be filled further." This acknowledges that the government plan is effectively a "half measure." President Yoon took a political gamble with his March 1st anniversary speech to prompt a progressive shift in the Japanese government's stance, but if the Korea-Japan summit yields no results, it will be difficult to avoid controversy over "empty-handed diplomacy." We hope the Korea-Japan summit scheduled for the 16th will produce achievements sufficient to quell the opposing public opinion.