When the bilateral relations of South Korea and Japan are analyzed, it is seen that they are two states with many problems in the past. The main reason for this is that Japan has pursued expansionist policies in the past with the dream of becoming Asia’s superpower. Japan, which has been trying to establish supremacy in the Asia Pacific for years with its expansionist policies, has caused the most damage to Koreans.

Asian states are closed and isolated from the outside world. For this reason, Asian societies, which are closed inward, have been of interest to Western states. First of all, China opened its doors to Western states, and gradually other Asian states were forced to do the same. Weakened and humiliated by the colonial Western powers, China lost its dominant power in Asia. Likewise, looking at the Korean peninsula, the Joseon (조선) Empire is no longer as powerful as it used to be. This is why the Soviet Union was the strongest state in Asia. For this reason, despite the growing influence of the Soviet Union in Asia, Japan started to see itself as an unbeatable power after winning the Russian-Japanese War in 1905 to become the dominant power in Asia. After defeating the Soviet Union, Japan realized its power and thus became the bad boy of Asia.

Thinking that it was an invincible power in Asia, Japan began to pursue expansionist policies. For this reason, Japan, which invaded the Joseon Empire on the Korean peninsula in order to ensure its connection with the land, declared in 1905 with the Eulsa Protection Treaty (을사조약), that is, the Treaty of Protection, that Joseon’s territorial integrity and the right to observe its diplomatic relations were under its protection. Even though the Joseon Empire said that this treaty was an invalid and unfair treaty, Japan did not back down. Koreans have shown many acts of independence and resistance to get rid of the Japanese invasion. However, Japan did not hesitate to respond harshly to the Korean struggle for independence. Japan went further and declared its occupation of the Korean peninsula in 1910 with the Treaty of Annexation and disbanded the Korean military unit. Until 1945, Japanese occupation continued on the Korean peninsula.

Japan showed the biggest impact of its expansionist policies on the Korean peninsula. Japan remained on the Korean peninsula for many years, exploiting both the manpower and natural resources of the Koreans. Japan, which is now the bad boy of Asia, has become the dominant power in Asia by adding a new one to its inhumane persecutions every day. For example, the exploitation of Korean women and forced Korean labor.

Koreans tried to fight for independence after Japan declared its occupation of the Korean peninsula. To this end, they set up troops to fight Japan. Korean intellectuals established schools to educate Korean citizens, and through the newspaper they endeavored to expose the harsh realities of the Japanese occupation. This effort by Korean intellectuals began to bear fruit. Korean citizens who were ready to fight for independence did not give up, despite harsh sanctions imposed by Japan.

On March 1, 1919, Koreans launched the national movement for independence. This movement launched an all-out revolutionary movement both at home and abroad. This movement, which transcended the borders of the Korean peninsula, further increased the spirit of national independence and the courage of Koreans. At the same time, in order to achieve full national independence, they took care to establish Korean enterprises in order to increase economic independence. The concept of “domestic goods belong to the country” has been a positive reflection of Korean nationalism. Independence movements on the Korean peninsula continued until 1945.

Japan entered the Second World War in 1939 to further consolidate and increase its dominant power in the Far East. Japan also continued its occupation of the Korean peninsula during the war. In 1941, following Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor, US President Franklin Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill discussed Japan’s expansionist policies in the Far East and the Korean issue. The Cairo Declaration was then issued in 1943, declaring that Korea would become independent in due course and that Japan’s expansionism would be prevented. On behalf of the Soviet Union, Stalin accepted this decision.

In 1945, the United States and the Soviet Union together declared war on Japan. The United States and the Soviet Union divided the Korean peninsula into two zones of military operations along the 38th parallel (north of the parallel is controlled by the Soviet Union and south by the United States). Japanese troops could offer no further resistance and the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki eliminated Japan completely. Thus ended the Japanese occupation of the Asia Pacific and Japan withdrew from the Second World War. The Korean peninsula declared its independence on August 15, 1945.

Although the Korean peninsula was declared independent in 1945, it remained as two military bases between the United States and the Soviet Union. This laid the foundation for the Korean War in 1950.

With Germany and Japan pacified after the Second World War, the Soviet Union remained the only problematic state in the international system. With the beginning of the Cold War between the US and the Soviet Union, the US pursued a policy of isolating the Soviet Union. America provided aid to Europe and Turkey through the Marshall Plan and the Truman Doctrine. But there is one region that America has forgotten. That region is the Korean peninsula.

In June 1950, northern troops, believed to be led by Kim II Sung, crossed the 38th parallel and attacked the south. Thus began the Korean War in 1950. The war between north and south lasted for three years. The Korean people, who suffered together for independence for many years, were separated as two separate states in 1953. Thus, the north of the Korean peninsula is ruled by a communist state, while the south is ruled by a liberal democracy.

Although South Korea was initially ruled by despotic governments after the Korean War, it overthrew despotic governments with popular uprisings such as the June uprisings after the 1980s and managed to become a democratic state. After becoming a democratic state, South Korea has taken steps to develop its urban planning and industries. South Korea has not only taken such steps to develop its economy, but has also used its soft power to the fullest. With K-Pop and K-dramas, it has started to attract the world’s attention and has become a country of interest every day. For example, artists like BTS, EXO or PSY have become soft power, bringing big money to their countries. The increasing popularity of BTS in the world and its meeting with US President Joe Biden at the White House was an indication of how well South Korea uses its soft power. South Korea has succeeded in developing its technology by closely following technological developments. It is the country of origin of companies such as Samsung, LG and Hyundai. South Korea is now the eleventh largest economy in the world.

Looking at the Japanese peninsula, with the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan retreated back into itself and put its expansionist policies on the back burner. Focusing entirely on its own development, Japan has quickly left behind the heavy traces of the past to become the third largest economy in the world. In its relations with its border neighbors, it has tried to leave behind the bad impression of the past.

Behind the scenes of South Korea and Japan’s rapprochement is the fact that despite the fact that South Korea has developed its economy and technology so much, there is a danger like North Korea. Because the fact that the north of the Korean peninsula is ruled by a communist government and is increasing its nuclear armament day by day has always been a danger to the south. For this reason, South Korea has endeavored to improve its relations with Japan day by day in order to ensure border security by leaving the painful traces of the past behind. The North Korean threat was not the only reason behind South Korea’s rapprochement with Japan. In 1991, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, there was no longer any Soviet influence in Asia. Instead, there is a rising China. China’s growing economy and communist rule has become a new threat to the Asian continent. After 2000, China’s growing power in Asia and its growing presence in the international system after 2016, when it entered into a trade war with the US, was another reason. Thus, South Korea and Japan have been careful to develop their relations in cooperation with the US, shaking off the bitterness of the past.

The US has had a major influence in improving relations between South Korea and Japan. The United States is aware that Japan and South Korea are the best alliance to control China and slow down its development in Asia. Therefore, it knows very well that if it is going to ally with both states, it must first put the problems between these two states behind it. With the economic and military assistance of the US, the alliance between Japan and South Korea has developed day by day.

In the name of normalization of relations between South Korea and Japan, South Korean Defense Minister Lee Song Jup said at the “Shangri-La Dialogue” forum organized by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) in Singapore that they want to normalize relations with Japan and are ready to engage in serious dialogue with Japan.