The Yoon Suk-yeol administration’s Japan Policy Challenges 

Jin Chang Soo

(jincs@sejong.org)

Senior Research Fellow, 

The Sejong Institute

English Abstract

As President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol emphasizes cooperation between the Republic of Korea and Japan, it is clear that there will be a new phase in the ROK-Japan relations, which was at the worst. President-elect Yoon has a high priority on ROK-Japan cooperation and has a strong will for ROK-U.S.-Japan cooperation in terms of foreign policy. The Yoon administration will be different from the Moon administration in that it places importance on ROK-Japan relations in international relations.

The new administration's Japan policy will have to learn lessons from the previous administration's failed Japan policy. For the ROK and Japan to win-win, they must manage past historical issues, expand profits, and share strategies. Strategic diplomacy cannot be strengthened unless the political circles of the ROK and Japan break away from the feeling of exclusive nationalism.

To build trust between the ROK and Japan, a top-down approach based on an agreement between the leaders is efficient. Foremost, the leaders of the ROK and Japan should meet as soon as possible to confirm their willingness to improve ROK-Japan relations. In addition, the Yoon administration needs a two-sided strategy of communicating with Japan and making up for the victims. In order to take a comprehensive approach with Japan as President-elect Yoon insists, it is necessary to gradually restore trust with Japan. Above all, the direction has to be set at the ROK-Japan summit and a gentlemen's agreement has to be made to make sure that current issues will not get worse. Based on these, the ROK and Japan should solve problems one after another. Ultimately, a 2.0 version of the “Kim Dae-jung-Obuchi Joint Declaration” (Japan-South Korean Joint Declaration of 1998) has to be made as a form of a comprehensive declaration.