Once people believed in Thomas Hobbes’s philosophy that the state of nature is “a war of all against all” and Adam Smith’s “Laissez Faire” that all be better off if one pursues one’s own interest. After the world experienced too many conflicts that cannot be solved by an individual nation, these ideas have come to light that they are, in fact, incomplete. We now, in the 21st century, face the undeniable reality that we need reconciliation and communication within a regional group. We have begun to see the value of our neighbors.

In such atmosphere, East Asia is standing on the road to Community that comprises both Northeastern and Southeastern Asia. The current best model, ‘ASEAN+3,’ includes the Republic of Korea, Japan, China, and the ASEAN countries (Association of South East Asian Nations): Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam.

The goal of community is the integration of economy, security, and culture. Most of the research done on East Asia Community centers about economic integration based on free trade agreements among East Asian countries. However, it is naïve and myopic to believe that the economic profits will deliver us to a true community. A true and long-lasting community is built upon mutual understanding in history, culture, and humanity. East Asia, characterized by complicated historical relationship that has led to territorial disputes, cultural diversity and stereotypes, lacks such understanding. And these three huge boulders are hampering the way to unity, to a true East Asia Community.

In order to solve these issues, first, we need to establish correct perception about East Asian history. East Asian countries, especially Northeast Asian ones, have an intricate network of history. Korea and Japan paid tributes to China for thousands of years; Japan coercively colonized Korea; the three nations have undergone a series of war and compromises. However the similar our history is, each nation teaches different versions of history to its citizens, concealing mistakes and glorifying successes. For example, Japan’s national history textbook writes distorted accounts about Korean history. It justifies Japan’s colonization of Chosun Dynasty that Japan fostered Chosun’s development and states that Dokdo is in Japanese territory, though historical documents prove that Dokdo is on Korean soil. This means that Japan has not given up its imperialistic bent and not acknowledged Korea’s autonomy. Such historical records have instilled incorrect awareness of East Asian history in Japanese people and aggravated the relationship between the two countries. A lot of efforts are underway to revise these textbooks, like a Korea-Japan society for the study of history textbooks. Still, many Japanese perceive Korea as a country which once has been colonized by them; they sometimes unconsciously belittle Koreans. Without correct perception of history, East Asians cannot truly cooperate. No one nation can determine the historical paths we have treaded on. Nationalism can go, only to the extent that it does not plunge the truth in confusion.

Second, we need to accept cultural diversity in East Asia and actively trade human and cultural resources. East Asia is composed of diverse cultures that are unlikely to be unified into a single traditional Asian value, such as Confucianism, Buddhism, or the fact that everyone likes rice. The term “Asian values” is a mere reminiscence, not a future initiative, and maybe, as some critics say, it is actually a pretentious representation of East Asia in response to Western powers. Therefore, we need to accept the different cultures already existing. The next step after accepting the differences is the trade of human and cultural resources. For example, Recently, Korean women’s groups including the “Girl’s generation” and “Kara” gained enormous popularity in Japan. It is hard to believe that Japan, the forbearer of idol culture in Korea, viewed Korean idols and entertainment media with surprise and admiration. The success of Korean mass media means that Japan and Korea actually share a culture. Also, the exchange of human resources can encourage cultural unity. Universities and companies accept East Asians to their campuses and in their offices, to become supernational within the region of East Asia.

Third, we should try to eliminate stereotypes over other East Asians. Many South East Asians in Korea are discriminated. For example, many South East Asian women who have traveled to Korea to marry Korean men have undergone serious discrimination, often bearing the violence of Korean husbands. It is a distressing fact that more than half of married couples in Korean rural society are international. Also, South East Asian workers who have come to Korea with a dream of earning money and having a new life, as immigrants who have traveled to U.S. with an American dream, actually suffer from unreasonable hostility of Koreans. They are not able to receive basic services related to health and working conditions. East Asia Community cannot develop from such relationship between countries and their people, one belittling the other. We do not have rights to categorize people into winners and losers; everyone is eligible for basic respect regardless of his nationality and status.

East Asia Community is now a necessity, not a choice. It shields us from the fluctuating, threatening global trends by building our own trend. And understanding East Asian history, culture, and humanity are fundamentals in the process. There is an old Korean proverb: “near neighbor is better than a distant cousin.” If we should create favorable relationship with near neighbors, how much more can we do with near cousins in East Asia Community? (East Asians are more genetically similar to us than Westerners are.)

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