During times of great tragedy, the media often focus on little things designed to give us hope: an old man who survived by clinging to his roof or a child improbably pulled from the rubble, safe after several days. However, in media commentaries and online another possibility for hope has opened up - that of improved Korea-Japan relations.
For the first time ever, Koreans see the Japanese as pitiable. The erstwhile victimizer has suddenly become the victim. Koreans have found themselves in the new position of sympathizing with and being benefactor towards their oft-detested rival.
It isn't an exaggeration to say that both Koreas have something of a siege mentality; they perceive a history of long suffering the cruel machinations of powerful outside forces. Whether this is accurate is not important. What matters is that it deeply informs how Koreans think of their neighbors, Japan and China. Japan, perpetrator of a harsh colonial regime in Korea from 1910-1945, inspires roundly negative feelings in most Koreans.
Every so often, waves of anti-Japanese feelings arise here. Three issues tend to inflame public opinion the most. First is the periodic publication of textbooks which appear to justify and whitewash Japan's colonial endeavors. The second is the issue of World War II-era "comfort women"; Koreans who were drafted into sexual slavery to satisfy Japanese military men.
Koreans tend to feel that both compensation and apologies have been insufficient regarding these two issues and there is some slight evidence that suggests more and more Japanese agree. The third and most visible issue is the dispute over the Dokdo islets (Takeshima in Japanese), which provokes a passionate response here.
Children are taught the "Dokdo song" at school and it is not uncommon to see posters, stickers and even restaurant signage proclaiming "Dokdo is our land!" Most people in Korea can cite historical evidence to support their claim. By contrast, in Japan most people seem to struggle to explain the issue in any depth, if they have heard of it all.
These issues keep the wounds of colonialism open in Korea and contribute to the enduring view that Korea's role is victim, while Japan is victimizer. But this all changed on March 11, when Japan unequivocally became a victim.
Sympathy and money have poured out of Korea. Korean pop-culture stars led the charge and have given generously, though one is tempted to point out that they have an interest in maintaining a positive image in Japan. A wide variety of government, civic and ad hoc groups have sent money, material and expertise to aid in rescue and recovery.
Newspaper editorialists on both the left and right ends of the political spectrum have expressed solidarity and encouragement for Japan and even admiration for how Japanese citizens have comported themselves amidst such confusion and hardship.
The imperial victimizer has long been a yardstick for Korea. Deep pride is taken in outdoing Japan in heavy ship orders or in flat-screen TV sales. Nothing less than unabashed elation comes from defeating Japan on the football field. Online, this mentality has led to some gloating that Korea might profit from the tragedy. Some have even suggested that the earthquake and tsunami were a form of deserved punishment. But those voices have tended to be shouted down by others, calling for compassion and shared humanism.
This, essentially, is a new idea: that commonality trumps difference with regards to Japan. As one blogger put it, "We hold a lot of grudges over issues like Dokdo or the comfort women. Let's try to set those things aside. Just for awhile, let's try to be people before we're Koreans."
Inevitably, there have some been calls online to "never forget" and "never forgive" despite the current tragedy. One blog highly ranked on search engines displays tact by only referencing the March 1 uprising of 1919 in exhorting Koreans to recall Japanese oppression (while curiously playing "What a Friend We Have in Jesus") and avoiding all mention of the earthquake.
While today the more extreme voices online seem to have been moderated by the netizen community at large, by contrast, not two weeks earlier something of a war to disable web servers broke out between Korean and Japanese netizens. Such a quick shift in mood is encouraging.
It is young people, whose memories of Japanese oppression are cultural rather than personal, who offer the most hope. A survey of 58 social science students at Ulsan University conducted by the author found that 62% thought that relations between the two countries had a chance to improve after the tragedy. Out of this group, 19% responded they thought nothing would change. An equal number replied that they didn't know.
Co-mingling with responses about the duty to help a neighbor, and the need for humanity and sympathy was the idea that Japan might reciprocate the aid and support with a greater concern for issues that still frustrate Koreans. Also evident was pride in the fact that a safe, strong Republic of Korea is in a position to aid a stricken country that has always been seen as more developed and more powerful.
Some also suggest that this is a chance to show Korea's maturity and magnanimity. As Noh Kyoung Yoon, a literature major put it, "In forgetting our past history and helping our neighbor, Korea will be assessed as a country that has a good foreign policy."
The long-term resentment and newfound sympathy mixes with a great deal of respect for Japan's developed status and cultural contributions, ranging from food to music to fashion, creating a complicated picture. The dominant image of the relationship, however, has been one in which Korea, the struggling victim, is clawing to catch up with its successful, powerful, once-imperial neighbor.
Recently, however, Korea's economy is experiencing growth while Japan's struggles. And now that the old colonial power is in need of Korea's help following the earthquake and tsunami, ideas of sympathy, understanding and significantly, equality, are ascendant.
There is certainly an opportunity here. After the emergency abates and rebuilding begins, the Japanese government would do well to offer some sort of concession (or at the least, make some significant gesture) on one or more of the hot issues that still provoke Koreans.
Indeed, with such an unprecedented environment of sympathy and solidarity, some small reciprocity would have a greater impact than it might otherwise. It would be a shame not to take advantage of the current public sentiment in South Korea.
So will this tragedy spark a long-term change in the relationship between South Korea and Japan? Perhaps not. The wounds are deep and longstanding. More than lone events, time is what heals. We might, however, be able to look back on the great quake of 2011 as an important marker along the long, slow road to better relations.
Andray Abrahamian is a doctoral candidate at the University of Ulsan, South Korea
Source: atimes.com
For the first time ever, Koreans see the Japanese as pitiable. The erstwhile victimizer has suddenly become the victim. Koreans have found themselves in the new position of sympathizing with and being benefactor towards their oft-detested rival.
It isn't an exaggeration to say that both Koreas have something of a siege mentality; they perceive a history of long suffering the cruel machinations of powerful outside forces. Whether this is accurate is not important. What matters is that it deeply informs how Koreans think of their neighbors, Japan and China. Japan, perpetrator of a harsh colonial regime in Korea from 1910-1945, inspires roundly negative feelings in most Koreans.
Every so often, waves of anti-Japanese feelings arise here. Three issues tend to inflame public opinion the most. First is the periodic publication of textbooks which appear to justify and whitewash Japan's colonial endeavors. The second is the issue of World War II-era "comfort women"; Koreans who were drafted into sexual slavery to satisfy Japanese military men.
Koreans tend to feel that both compensation and apologies have been insufficient regarding these two issues and there is some slight evidence that suggests more and more Japanese agree. The third and most visible issue is the dispute over the Dokdo islets (Takeshima in Japanese), which provokes a passionate response here.
Children are taught the "Dokdo song" at school and it is not uncommon to see posters, stickers and even restaurant signage proclaiming "Dokdo is our land!" Most people in Korea can cite historical evidence to support their claim. By contrast, in Japan most people seem to struggle to explain the issue in any depth, if they have heard of it all.
These issues keep the wounds of colonialism open in Korea and contribute to the enduring view that Korea's role is victim, while Japan is victimizer. But this all changed on March 11, when Japan unequivocally became a victim.
Sympathy and money have poured out of Korea. Korean pop-culture stars led the charge and have given generously, though one is tempted to point out that they have an interest in maintaining a positive image in Japan. A wide variety of government, civic and ad hoc groups have sent money, material and expertise to aid in rescue and recovery.
Newspaper editorialists on both the left and right ends of the political spectrum have expressed solidarity and encouragement for Japan and even admiration for how Japanese citizens have comported themselves amidst such confusion and hardship.
The imperial victimizer has long been a yardstick for Korea. Deep pride is taken in outdoing Japan in heavy ship orders or in flat-screen TV sales. Nothing less than unabashed elation comes from defeating Japan on the football field. Online, this mentality has led to some gloating that Korea might profit from the tragedy. Some have even suggested that the earthquake and tsunami were a form of deserved punishment. But those voices have tended to be shouted down by others, calling for compassion and shared humanism.
This, essentially, is a new idea: that commonality trumps difference with regards to Japan. As one blogger put it, "We hold a lot of grudges over issues like Dokdo or the comfort women. Let's try to set those things aside. Just for awhile, let's try to be people before we're Koreans."
Inevitably, there have some been calls online to "never forget" and "never forgive" despite the current tragedy. One blog highly ranked on search engines displays tact by only referencing the March 1 uprising of 1919 in exhorting Koreans to recall Japanese oppression (while curiously playing "What a Friend We Have in Jesus") and avoiding all mention of the earthquake.
While today the more extreme voices online seem to have been moderated by the netizen community at large, by contrast, not two weeks earlier something of a war to disable web servers broke out between Korean and Japanese netizens. Such a quick shift in mood is encouraging.
It is young people, whose memories of Japanese oppression are cultural rather than personal, who offer the most hope. A survey of 58 social science students at Ulsan University conducted by the author found that 62% thought that relations between the two countries had a chance to improve after the tragedy. Out of this group, 19% responded they thought nothing would change. An equal number replied that they didn't know.
Co-mingling with responses about the duty to help a neighbor, and the need for humanity and sympathy was the idea that Japan might reciprocate the aid and support with a greater concern for issues that still frustrate Koreans. Also evident was pride in the fact that a safe, strong Republic of Korea is in a position to aid a stricken country that has always been seen as more developed and more powerful.
Some also suggest that this is a chance to show Korea's maturity and magnanimity. As Noh Kyoung Yoon, a literature major put it, "In forgetting our past history and helping our neighbor, Korea will be assessed as a country that has a good foreign policy."
The long-term resentment and newfound sympathy mixes with a great deal of respect for Japan's developed status and cultural contributions, ranging from food to music to fashion, creating a complicated picture. The dominant image of the relationship, however, has been one in which Korea, the struggling victim, is clawing to catch up with its successful, powerful, once-imperial neighbor.
Recently, however, Korea's economy is experiencing growth while Japan's struggles. And now that the old colonial power is in need of Korea's help following the earthquake and tsunami, ideas of sympathy, understanding and significantly, equality, are ascendant.
There is certainly an opportunity here. After the emergency abates and rebuilding begins, the Japanese government would do well to offer some sort of concession (or at the least, make some significant gesture) on one or more of the hot issues that still provoke Koreans.
Indeed, with such an unprecedented environment of sympathy and solidarity, some small reciprocity would have a greater impact than it might otherwise. It would be a shame not to take advantage of the current public sentiment in South Korea.
So will this tragedy spark a long-term change in the relationship between South Korea and Japan? Perhaps not. The wounds are deep and longstanding. More than lone events, time is what heals. We might, however, be able to look back on the great quake of 2011 as an important marker along the long, slow road to better relations.
Andray Abrahamian is a doctoral candidate at the University of Ulsan, South Korea
Source: atimes.com
