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By Choe Chong-dae
Over the past decade, the relationship between Korea and Japan has been complicated by historical and territorial disputes. However, amidst the fractious relationship, the Korean government recently announced a framework for a resolution to the significant issue of compensation for victims of forced labor during Japanese colonial rule. This initiative aims to put an end to the vicious cycle of strained relations between the two Asian powers.
While Japan and the United States, including Korea's conservatives, welcomed the announcement, victim groups and the opposition expressed their disappointment, emphasizing that the resolution fell far short of their demands for a genuine apology from Japan and direct compensation from the Japanese companies involved.
I was deeply impressed by a photo in the Korean media showing former Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama in Seoul on Aug 12, 2015, bowing on his knees outside Seodaemun Prison and in front of the memorial dedicated to Korean independence activists who had fought against Japan's colonial rule (1910-1945). He offered a profound apology to those who had sacrificed their lives and suffered under the harsh treatment of Japanese colonial rule, expressing remorse for Japan's wartime actions.
Hatoyama's apology reminds me of the historic gesture made by then-West German Chancellor Willy Brandt, who knelt in front of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising memorial in Poland in 1970. Brandt's courageous act of falling to his knees and observing a moment of silence during his visit to the memorial of the Warsaw Ghetto, also known as the "Warsaw Genuflection," played a significant role in fostering reconciliation between Germany and Poland.
Similarly, both Hatoyama and Brandt recognized the significance of acknowledgment and responsibility for past wrongs in order to move forward as a nation and establish a better future.
Over the past decade, Hatoyama has been advocating for his country to take complete responsibility for its history as a former colonizer. He has been the most vocal representative of Japanese politics, reflecting on the brutal treatment of civilians during the oppressive Japanese colonial regime. However, he has been criticized and called a traitor by ultra-right-wing Japanese conservatives.
It is inspiring to learn that Hatoyama was awarded the Woodang Special Award by the Woodang Foundation for Education and Culture recently, in recognition of his outstanding courage and determination in upholding justice and historical truth, despite facing opposition from popular opinion. The Woodang Foundation commemorates the philanthropic activism and remarkable contribution to the Korean independence struggle by Lee Hoe-yeong (1867-1932), who is better known by his pen name Woodang. He, along with five brothers, is highly respected by Koreans for their active participation in Korea's independence movement in Manchuria.
Nelson Mandela's emotionally powerful words in 1999, "We should forgive, but not forget. Truth and reconciliation are the only hope for nations that are bitterly divided," left a profound impact on me. They inspired me to recognize the significance of acknowledging a nation's painful history as a crucial step toward achieving unity and peace.
In reflecting on the bitter history between the two Koreas and Japan, forgiveness becomes a vital element of the healing process. However, forgiveness does not entail forgetting the past or ignoring its impact. Instead, it involves acknowledging the wrongs committed, holding individuals or nations accountable for their past actions, and working toward reconciliation. By facing the past and dealing with it head-on, we can move forward toward a brighter and more united future to put strained ties back on track.
To surmount a variety of difficulties between the Koreas and Japan, it is necessary to open dialogue free of prejudice and excess emotion. Such sincere discussion will enable us to better understand each other's situations. The two countries should make every possible effort to move forward beyond the past and establish a productive relationship that shares universal values and interests.
Choe Chong-dae (choecd@naver.com) is a guest columnist of The Korea Times. He is president of Dae-kwang International Co., and director of the Korean-Swedish Association.
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