[Column] Japan’s ‘Forced Labor Distortion’ Douses Cold Water on Korea-Japan Relations

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“They are treated like horses or donkeys. If they stop working during the task, they are beaten. If they fall behind others during military marches, they are beaten. It is no exaggeration to say that they receive a minimal amount of food, perform maximum demands, and are subjected to beatings.”

A report titled “The Situation of the Kashima Chinese Laborer Riot,” written on July 20, 1945 (authored by the commander of the Sendai Prisoner of War Camp and held at the U.S. National Archives), describes forced laborers in this way.

The violence and brutality of forced labor carried out comprehensively across East Asia are testified by many records. Approximately 7 million people were recruited for forced labor from Korea between 1939 and 1945. They were transferred to coal mines, railroads, and civil engineering sites. A significant number died from assault and torture, accidents, malnutrition, and drowning.

Forced labor is a historical reality. Nevertheless, the Japanese government distorts the truth. Recently, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology announced the results of textbook screenings that dilute the coerciveness of forced labor and strengthen claims to Dokdo sovereignty. Regarding conscription, it described “young Koreans who voluntarily ‘applied and became soldiers.’” The phrase “Koreans were conscripted as Japanese soldiers” was changed to “participated as soldiers in the Japanese military.”

At this moment, when the March 16 Korea-Japan summit set a “future-oriented relationship” between the two countries, it is astonishing that Japan released distorted history textbooks without any progress. President Yoon’s magnanimous concession has returned as Japan’s regression on historical issues.

“Historical revisionism” through distortion is not relativism. It is close to anti-intellectualism. Even if alternative facts flood regarding the invasion war, the universal truth shared by the victim countries is not obscured. Regarding historical issues involving perpetrators and victims, the state has the responsibility to create a “minimum common understanding” and pass it on to future generations. Only then can it exist as a country that adheres to unified norms in the international community. Economic and security cooperation are also built on that foundation.

Japanese critic Kat? Norihiro, in his 1998 book Between Apology and Outrageous Remarks, finds the unconscious structure of the Japanese people in “collective double personality.” He diagnoses that the Japanese “denied their self after defeat, so they cannot mourn others.” If the truth is denied, genuine friendship and goodwill are impossible. It only invites isolation. Japan must stop distorting history and show a responsible attitude for a future-oriented Korea-Japan relationship.