뉴스레터

The Rally for the Korean and Japanese Citizens' Joint Declaration Marking the Centennial of Japan's Forced Annexation of Korea (hereafter "Rally"), which opened simultaneously on August 22 and closed on August 29, was the culmination of the efforts toward the historical reconciliation and mutual prosperity of Korea and Japan as well as the pinnacle of the mutual exchanges and collaboration between Korean and Japanese civil societies. We met with Standing Chair Lee Yi-hwa of the Korean Implementation Committee for the Korean and Japanese Citizens' Joint Action Initiative Marking the Centennial of Japan's Forced Annexation of Korea (hereafter "Korean Implementation Committee") for a first-hand, insider account of the Rally._Editor's Note

The Rally in August was a great success. What was the secret behind the success? And as the Chair of the Korean Implementation Committee, how do you feel about the success?

There were two reasons why the Rally was so successful. Around the opening of the Rally, Japan's Prime Minister Kan Naoto, in an unprecedented move, apologized for Japan's colonial rule over Korea. The apology has not been followed up with any concrete action. Nonetheless, the apology was still a step forward, and it served to create a mood of hope for the Rally. The second reason has to do with a more mature civil consciousness. The Japanese civil society, in particular, has made great advances; a growing number of people are more knowledgeable and have moved beyond ultra-nationalism and militarism.

I was overwhelmed with emotion upon the successful completion of the Rally. Before the Rally, there had only been sporadic, small-scale meetings on specific issues, including the Great Kanto Earthquake, Koreans in Sakhalin, and forced mobilization. Marking the centennial of Japan's forced mobilization of Korea, discussions on these issues could take place on a large-scale at a single venue, and the response was explosive. I was taken aback by the overwhelming support I witnessed at the Rally in Japan, which was held at the Toshima Town Hall in Tokyo on August 22. Some 1,300 supporters showed up at the venue, which has an 800-person capacity. I kept getting out of my seat to walk around and witness the Japanese civil society's support for the event. Even when Japanese right-wing activists came in shouting and heckling, the Japanese supporters did not budge; some even shed tears.

Of the various programs and events of the Rally, which was the well-received?

We organized diverse programs and events, including an academic conference as well as side, cultural, and regional events. Personally, I most enjoyed the informal gatherings. They were rare opportunities—impossible to create artificially—for Korean and Japanese citizens to open their hearts to one another and communicate at an emotional level. It goes without saying that academic research is important as it uncovers facts. However, if people can engage one another at an emotional level after gaining academic knowledge, that is when they can truly be moved to take action. Korean and Japanese citizens talked together about Japanese military "comfort women" and sang 'Arirang' and 'Morning Dew' arm in arm. The experience moved them. That's where change begins.

The program to which citizens responded most enthusiastically was the Special Exhibit for the Centennial of Japan's Forced Annexation of Korea, which was held at the Seodaemun Prison History Hall under the title "Living in the Large Prison of Colonization." The exhibit, which went on until September 30, featured relics and personal belongings as well as video and audio footage, photographs, paintings, handicraft works, and other items from the period of Japanese colonial rule that not readily accessible to the public. The exhibit saw a wide array of visitors, from young children visiting with their parents to senior citizens who had lived through the colonial period. Some Japanese visitors sent messages about how they had come to the exhibit with their children and had been greatly moved.

Lee, Yi-hwa

The demands and action plans proposed by the Joint Action Initiative are very detailed and specific. Which of the action plans do you believe requires the most urgent action, and which is showing the greatest progress?

Compensation for Korean atomic bomb victims has made the most progress. The issue is very clear-cut and the number of victims is small. There is no opposition in Japan either, so we believe the issue will be resolved relatively easily.

The most urgent issues are forced mobilization and Japanese military "comfort women." The issue of Japanese military "comfort women" can be considered a part of the larger issue of forced mobilization, but we categorized it separately as it involves the issue of women's rights. As many know, there are now very few surviving victims of forced mobilization and Japanese military sexual slavery. These two issues must be resolved while there are still surviving victims. While it is said that more forceful governmental-level demands cannot be made as they may jeopardize Korea-Japan relations, these two issues must be resolved at all costs.

We are working with the Japanese Implementation Committee on getting relevant legislations passed in both Korea and Japan. There are Japanese legislators in support of our cause. However, it is difficult to overcome the "rule of the majority." This applies to Korea as well. What I would like to stress here is that historical issues are not governmental matters. They are issues of the state and the nation. Therefore, there need not be counterproductive governmental confrontation over these issues.

Please tell us how the government, private citizens, and the public are assessing the Joint Action Initiative?

We came together on our own. We all have day jobs, but we use our own money and put in a lot of time and effort into organizing various events. The government knows about our activities but does not offer any assistance. It's disappointing. At the same time, we are most grateful to the citizens who contribute to our cause. There are a growing number of people taking part in our effort to reflect on the past and resolve the lingering issues of history. This in and of itself is a sign that private citizens and the public are giving us high marks. The reality is challenging, but the Rally showed me that there is huge potential.

What is the next step for the Joint Action Initiative?

As mentioned earlier, we will continue to work hard on passing legislations that will help resolve historical issues between Korea and Japan. If there are no laws, things can turn for the worse any moment. In reality, there's a lot more riding on the Japanese Diet. Things have certainly gotten better than in the past. There are Japanese legislators supporting our cause. Japanese civil society is exerting mounting pressure on the government. I can't stress this enough: historical issues are critical for peace. Historical issues must be resolved as soon as possible so that we do not become accomplices in a crime against history. And resolving historical issues is also necessary for the strengthening of Korea-Japan relations. We also need to tackle historical issues with China. It is worrying to see China reverting to a hegemonic, Sino-centric outlook.

We know that you are working on establishing a museum of Goguryeo history. What are the latest developments on that front?

There have been a number of developments. Fearing diplomatic friction, the project will be pursued by a regional government, and the facility will be downgraded from the original conception to Goguryeo History Hall. With the expected completion date set for 2015, the Goguryeo History Hall will be situated in a 10,000-pyong Goguryeo history theme park that will be constructed in Gyomun-dong, Guri-si. We finished negotiations with the district of Gwangjin in Seoul, which holds joint ownership of historical relics and sites on Mount Acha, regarding a partnership on business ventures related to the Gorguryeo brand. We realized it would be too challenging to build the entire facility on donations alone, so we revised our original plan and will be receiving government assistance.

You have devoted your entire life to making history more accessible to the public. What new stories about history do you have in store for your readers?

I now want to talk about Korean history and culture from a more positive viewpoint. Korea's palaces, some of which are on the World Heritage List, are highly accessible to the public. They are neither big nor imposing. It wasn't because there was no money to build more imposing structures. The kings kept the palaces modest out of consideration for the people. Royal tombs have never been plundered because there were no lavish jewels in them. The tombs of Korea royalty are some of the most modest in the world. These hidden tales about Korean history must be told and retold. I plan to write a book on Korean history and culture that discusses not only Korea's strengths but also weaknesses in an objective manner. The title will be translated into five different languages. I also plan to write a book on the history of Korean human rights, which is something I have been thinking about for quite some time. I will cut down on some of my other commitments in order to focus on my writing. I will work on polishing up the stories about Korean history that I have not yet had a chance to tell. I will also slowly put my life in order.