StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

Issues impeding the reconciliation of South Korea and Japan - Research Paper Example

Cite this document
Summary
This animosity between Japan and South Korea started during the 16th century in what the Koreans would call as the Imjin, which means the Year of the…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER97.9% of users find it useful
Issues impeding the reconciliation of South Korea and Japan
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "Issues impeding the reconciliation of South Korea and Japan"

Issues Impeding Reconciliation Between Japan and South Korea The problems that hamper steady cordial relations between Japan and South Korea is largely due to unresolved historical issues. This animosity between Japan and South Korea started during the 16th century in what the Koreans would call as the Imjin, which means the Year of the Water Dragon War. During this time, Japan was under the rule of Shogun Hideyoshi Toyotomi, the second of the Three Great Unifiers after the Sengoku Jidai period.

During his reign, Hideyoshi wanted to expand Japan’s imperial power by doing military conquests against the Ming Dynasty China, which was already weakened due to internal strife. For Hideyoshi’s army to mobilize easily to China, he had to pass through Korea. Hideyoshi deciced to claim Korea by conquest, but with the sole purpose of merely passing through and making the Kingdom of Korea serve under his rule. That expectation did not go as planned as the initially weak Korean defense stiffened as they became more organized and relentless.

It is also noted that the Chinese Ming sent an army to support the Koreans in their defense when it was apparent that the Japanese really intended to make a push for China. This bogged down the Japanese’ first invasion attempt. The second attempt to invade Korea was far more brutal as it is noted here: His second invasion of Korea was more about saving face than conquest: he wanted to demonstrate to the Chinese that he did not fear them or feel subservient in any way. He also wanted to punish the Koreans for resisting him.

In the first invasion he had hopes of winning them over, and thus had ordered his troops to treat civilians well so long as they were compliant. There would be none of this in the second invasion. Hideyoshi wanted the Koreans killed, soldiers and civilians alike, and evidence of the slaughter sent back to him in Japan. (Hawley, “The Imjin War: Part 2”) Though the Japanese pushed further in their second invasion attempt, the combined force of the Korean and Ming soldiers halted them, and much of Japan’s defeat was due to the skillful and daring capability of the Korean navy.

When Hideyoshi finally died due to illness, the invasion was called off. Centuries after, there was the Japanese imperial expansion prior and during World War II. When Japanese Imperial Forces marched through Korea, they pillaged cities and committed murder on civilian populations. Many Japanese soldiers, out of cruel whim, took many Korean girls and women for their own pleasure. As such, the euphemism "comfort women" (ianfu) was coined by imperial Japan, which referred to young females of various ethnic and national backgrounds, and social circumstances, who were forced to offer sexual services to the Japanese troops before and during the Second World War.

It is believed that most were Korean (Soh, “Japans Responsibility Toward Comfort Women Survivors”).  After World War II, the conflict and animosity between both countries were further aggravated when Japan made the Yasukuni Shrine in honor of the soldiers who fought during the war. The shrine honors some 2.5 million of Japan’s dead soldiers, but the remains of fourteen convicted Class-A war criminals are also interred there (Pan, “Japans Relationship with South Korea”). The fact that the recent Japanese government does not acknowledge the existence of these issues due to national and cultural pride has made warmer diplomatic relations hard.

For as long as Japan does not put closure to the issue by admitting responsibility for its faults in the past, the chances for reconciliation between the two countries will always be very slim. If Japan shows some degree of humility and acts on such goodwill, relations will improve.Works CitedHawley, Samuel. “The Imjin War: Part 2.” samuelhawley.com. 2003. Web. 23 September 2011.Pan, Esther. “Japans Relationship with South Korea.” cfr.org. 27 October 2005. Web. 23 September 2011. Soh, C.S. “Japans Responsibility Toward Comfort Women Survivors.” jpri.org. May 2001. Web.

23 September 2011.

Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“Issues impeding the reconciliation of South Korea and Japan Research Paper”, n.d.)
Issues impeding the reconciliation of South Korea and Japan Research Paper. Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/history/1580523-issues-impeding-the-reconciliation-of-south-korea-and-japan
(Issues Impeding the Reconciliation of South Korea and Japan Research Paper)
Issues Impeding the Reconciliation of South Korea and Japan Research Paper. https://studentshare.org/history/1580523-issues-impeding-the-reconciliation-of-south-korea-and-japan.
“Issues Impeding the Reconciliation of South Korea and Japan Research Paper”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/history/1580523-issues-impeding-the-reconciliation-of-south-korea-and-japan.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Issues impeding the reconciliation of South Korea and Japan

International Business Profile of South Korean and Japan

The above study analyses the international business profile for Japan, south korea and Singapore.... South Korean international business profile south korea is located in the Eastern Asia which is the border of East Sea and Yellow Sea.... south korea is more influenced by Confucian values that permeate all working life aspects which include management systems or interpersonal relations (Dennis 2003).... japan international business profile japan is located in the eastern Asia which is at the Island between North Pacific Ocean and the East Sea or the Sea of japan....
5 Pages (1250 words) Essay

South Korean Financial Crisis

Undoubtedly, this had a significant impact on the South Korean economy and led to korea's worst recession since the aftermath of the World War 2.... korea was progressing well in 1996 and had become a part of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).... These and various other debt related indicators were showcasing the upcoming crisis for korea.... Foreign investors in korea were starting to get wary of the market and lacked confidence in investing because of long recessions, large deficits in current accounts and growing short-term external debt....
6 Pages (1500 words) Case Study

Nuclear Program of North Korea

In this essay, I will argue that the North Korean Nuclear Program is not just a problem to the United states, but it also a threat to the other countries such as Japan and south korea.... They asserted that there was a need to protect themselves from any sort of aggression especially from Japan, south korea or even the United States.... hellip; Consequently, it would be favorable for the United States if they made a paradigm shift in tackling this problem by negotiating with North Koreans. Ever since the mid twentieth century, North korea has been engaging in nuclear development....
13 Pages (3250 words) Essay

Major Facts about North Korea

In the late 19th century, China and japan fought over the control of the Korean peninsula.... Nevertheless, Russia and japan fought over Manchuria and Korea (1904-1905).... japan won due to its technologically superior weapons.... China gave up Chinese speaking Taiwan to japan… The Russians feared that japan would try to annex Manchuria destabilizing their plans to build a railway connecting the Western to the Eastern part of Russia through Manchuria....
5 Pages (1250 words) Essay

Research paper nuclear testing in North Korea

North Korea conducted this test, despite receiving warnings from the international community, and this includes the United… This nuclear test by south korea led to the international community to start discussing a new policy approach towards North Korea.... North korea was able to carry a nuclear test on the 12th of February 2013, and this was the third test since the regime sought to produce nuclear weapons.... On February 12th 2013, while addressing the state, President Barrack Obama President Obama further went on to denote that the act by North korea will increase the isolation of North korea, from the international community....
4 Pages (1000 words) Research Paper

China,Japan and Korea

Just like China, japan also had numerous issues due to poor ancient political systems.... Historically, the Togukawa government ruled japan.... The system comprised of shogun, daimyo and the samurai (japan V 3).... japan had both formal and informal institutions; informal institutions comprised of Zoku and Amakudari.... hellip; Studies showed that the main reason for the political issues was that these states had no formal institutions that connected its citizens to the political system....
4 Pages (1000 words) Essay

Cajun Food in South Korea

The aim of the project is to expand the idea of Kajun food into the market of south korea by removing its competitor “The Boiling Crab and Cajun Restaurant Pier 17”.... The study confers to expansion into the markets of south korea.... USA is the proper country Target country for this case is south korea.... Food habits of south Korean people are significantly suitable and at par with the Cajun Food item.... The availability of sea food is ensured by the bordering japan Sea and Yellow Sea....
5 Pages (1250 words) Essay

South Korean History and Its Social, Technological, Economic, Environmental and Political Issues

This paper does a steep analysis of south korea through information from the US Department of State, South Korean Government, and other sources.... China became a “big brother” to korea and thus helped the small country maintain its self-sufficiency and fortress against foreign invasions.... The name Korea evolved from the Koryo dynasty, which succeeded in the Silla rule in 935 (south korea, 1999).... The Choson dynasty took over rule in 1392 and ruled until Japan annexed Korea in 1910 (south korea, 1999)....
10 Pages (2500 words) Term Paper
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us