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On November 19, 2015, the Northeast Asian History Foundation and the Korean Association for Political and Diplomatic History (President: Kim Young-myung, Professor, Hallym University) jointly held an international academic conference under the theme "Overall Issues in Korea-Japan Relations and Historical Reconciliation in Northeast Asia."

Through a total of three sessions, nine different papers were presented and discussed on topics such as the historical development of Korea-Japan economic relations, controversial issues between Korea and Japan and their current status, cases of historical reconciliation, exchange, and cooperation, trends in multilateral cooperation in Northeast Asia, and regional plans Korea and Japan have for Northeast Asia.

In-depth Discussion on Ways to Cooperate for Historical Reconciliation in East Asia

As a senior in Japanese academia, Professor Emeritus Kenichiro Hirano of the University of Tokyo took the stand to give a keynote address on the "Idea of Building an East Asian Community for the Future of Korea-Japan Relations," in which he stressed that in order to head toward building an East Asian community rather than repeat the past, Japan needs to change its historical perception toward Korea and China. Professor Hirano confessed that, since the end of the war, he has been researching at universities in Japan to come up with viable non-military ways to ensure security, but feels frustrated because countries in reality seem to be ending up repeating past mistakes.

He pointed out that in addition to Korea, China, and Japan, the boundary of "East Asia" also includes Southeast Asia, North America, and Australia, so to solve such a problem, he suggested the formation of a society in which not only countries, but also diverse kinds of groups, classes, and ethnicities participate in diverse activities that prompt exchange transcendent of borders. Professor Hirano concluded his address by remarking that if Japanese intellectuals can apply "East Asian community" as a conceptual framework to openly exchange their views with their Korean counterparts, and strengthen their solidarity with an East Asia that includes Southeast Asia, new ways to cope with controversial issues over differing historical perceptions shall emerge.

The first session was held on the topic "Historical Developments of Korea-Japan Economic Relations and Related Issues" to point out and criticize problems with the underlying historical perception in Japan that it played a major role in Korea's economic development. Professor Lee Yoon-sang gave a detailed explanation of how Japan pillaged the economy of Korea, or the late Joseon dynasty, up until 1910. Doctor Toriumi Yutaka (鳥海豊) of Sun Moon University set forth a counterargument by presenting about different types of theories on colonial modernization. Then Research Fellow Kim Gwan-won of the Northeast Asian History Foundation offered a critical examination of the argument that the funds paid according to the 1965 South Korea-Japan agreement on the settlement of claims contributed to Korea's economic development.

In the second session, the case of Germany and the experiences of Korea and Japan were compared under the topic "Cases of Historical Reconciliation, Exchange, and Cooperation and the Status Quo of Korea-Japan Relations." Through his presentation on "German Post-war Processing of Forced Labor," Professor Emeritus Tamura Mitsuaki (田村光彰) of Hokuriku University mentioned how, after the war, Germany participated in forming a European community and built memorials for the war dead so as to not repeat the wrongdoings by the Nazi. His presentation also centered on the Foundation "Remembrance, Responsibility, and the Future" established in Germany to compensate Nazi-era forced laborers and compared that with the stance Japan is currently taking.

Shaping Textbook Standards with Values Obtained From Discussions

Professor Lee Shin-chul of Sungkyunkwan University summarized through his paper "Progress and Limitations to Korea-Japan Discussions about History to Overcome Historical Conflicts" the long standing sources of conflict between Korea and Japan over history textbook descriptions: the nature of Imjin Waeran (壬辰倭亂 1592-1598 Japanese Invasions), the Imnailbonbuseol (任那日本府說 Mimana Controversy), the nature of Japan's forced annexation of Korea, the colonial modernization theory, and the nature of the Korea-Japan Basic Treaty of 1965. He cited the publication of eight different joint supplementary textbooks between Korea and Japan, including one between Korea, China, and Japan, as progress which suggests that civil societies capable of engaging in discussions about history are being formed in each country. There is, however, a limit to such textbooks when it comes to how much of them are actually being used in schools. He went on to suggest the compilation of a textbook standard based on all the values obtained so far through discussions between Korea, China, and Japan on textbooks, which could then be recommended to each country's government and textbook authors. He also suggested referring to similar cases in Europe to do so if necessary.

Professor Choi Hee-sik of Kookmin University offered an analysis on exchanges between Korean and Japanese politicians and youths that took place since diplomatic relations became normalized in 1965, which were mainly led by policy networks such as the Korea-Japan Cooperation Committee, the Korea-Japan Parliamentarians' Union, and the Korea-Japan Forum. Professor Choi then pointed out that the functions and roles that had been undertaken through such exchanges have weakened over time and therefore requires change in order to reinforce them and make them more substantial.

In the third and final session focused on the topic "Regional Cooperation in East Asia and Korea-Japan Relations," Professor Yi Soo-kyung of Tokyo Gakugei University gave comments on the need to improve relations between Korea and Japan. As the last presenter, Professor Cho Yang-hyun of the Korea National Diplomatic Academy covered in detail the respective regionalism-based strategies of Korea and Japan and talked of the need and possibility of historical reconciliation in Northeast Asia.

All the conference participants agreed that now is more than ever the time to expand exchange and cooperation between Korea and Japan and that, to bring peace and co-prosperity to Northeast Asia, efforts must be made toward forming an East Asian community.