Right now, under the current regime in Korea, let's quickly clear up all the ongoing issues. Even if we move on to another regime, let's make it irreversible. This is truly shocking. Hello, I'm Myungchal. I'm currently teaching at Inha University, and recently I've been filming a lot of videos in various places, which has been great as I get to meet many of you. I don't see the events happening now as normal occurrences. I feel that conservatism is collapsing. Even within the ruling party, there are many aspects of the president's governance that people do not resonate with. The number of forces that should be moving in sync is continually decreasing. As a result, I believe the hierarchy is becoming very rigid. Another major background issue is that a lot of the current problems stem from the Korea-Japan relationship, which is filled with conflict.

We believe that Japan still has not reflected on its history, and we are not fully open to that. However, what can the president do? The Korea-Japan relationship needs to improve, and we should work together to clearly draw a line against China, Russia, and North Korea as adversaries. Therefore, it is said that we should accommodate Japan's requests from a broader perspective as much as possible. This statement comes from a lack of understanding of Japan. Japan is a country that meticulously utilizes the weaknesses of others in diplomacy to maximize its national interests. On the other hand, we might have a somewhat democratic characteristic where we think that if we do something generously, the other side will respond accordingly. This mindset does not work at all with Japan, and I hope it is made clear that Japan is not the kind of country that will respond to such an approach.

If you fill it, they will show their sincerity and fill half a cup for you. They are not the kind of people who would do that. Why doesn't Japan reflect on its history regarding Korea? We often compare it to Germany, which has neatly reflected on its history and has even apologized to the extent that they say it should be enough now. But what about Japan? Why is this the case? The differences are connected to domestic issues in Korea. After Germany's defeat, what phenomenon occurred? Hitler, the leader of the Nazi Party, committed suicide. As a result, the Nazi Party was completely disbanded. Following that, the German people could attribute their guilt to the Nazi Party or Hitler and find a way to escape from it. But what about Japan? Who is the subject there? It is the Emperor, right?

The organization remains unchanged, and honestly, the people who could be considered the aristocrats of militarism at that time are still all there. Their descendants continue to emerge, and shortly after the end of World War II, the Cold War broke out, creating a situation where the United States helped Japan grow. This meant that a nation previously seen as a criminal state could actually become an economic power due to the international environment. But what about Germany? It was divided, and most surrounding countries were major powers—Britain, France, and the United States were all part of NATO. As a result, Germany had no way to survive without external assistance. At that time, Japan had no major powers surrounding it, so it faced almost no pressure from its neighbors. Additionally, as a civil war broke out, it actually...

The United States provided support, and during Japan's growth process, what events unfolded? Many officials, who had been expelled as war criminals at that time, returned once the Cold War began. A notable example is Kishi Nobusuke, who was imprisoned for three and a half years as a suspect in war crimes. He is quite a famous figure, and he is the maternal grandfather of Prime Minister Abe. This person, labeled a war criminal, received a pardon from the United States and even became Prime Minister. When he assumed office, he played a central role in the Japan-U.S. alliance. The pro-Japanese collaborators in Korea relied on Japan as their refuge. Japan thrived significantly in the post-war era, and now those individuals are in positions of authority.

In Korea, there is still a sense that Japan's economy is significantly declining. It is experiencing a serious downturn. Meanwhile, China and Russia are turning against each other like during the Cold War, and the United States seems to have a mindset of trying to support Japan again. This is a return to the past. In Korea, there is a similar sentiment. As Korea's economy grows and it becomes a major economic power, there is a rising mindset among independence advocates. In the past, when we were overwhelmingly weaker than Japan, we felt helpless because Japan was doing so well, and we thought we were lacking. However, now that we are recognized as a developed country, many people feel that we have nothing to envy in Japan.

There are people who still have that view of Japan, which feels quite outdated. Currently, the conservative side, as I mentioned earlier, is struggling because the current government in Korea lacks significant support. As a result, President Yoon seems to have a more favorable view of Japan, not necessarily in terms of pro-Japanese sentiment, but rather due to psychological factors. He likely has positive childhood memories associated with Japan; his father studied in Japan, and he has mentioned in the past how clean and neat Japan was. Therefore, the impression of Japan from that glorious past remains with him. The discussion of whether the Korea-Japan alliance is good or bad pales in comparison to the fact that, psychologically, Japan is viewed positively. In this context, the position of the New Right forces is…

The president's perception of Japan aligns very well. There are many aspects in which mutual understanding is present. From the president's perspective, there is a sense of distance and alienation from those he has worked with in the past, which may create a feeling of isolation. In this context, the so-called New Right forces are approaching, suggesting collaboration, which might indicate a certain trend. However, this cannot be considered normal, and I don't think it can last long. In some ways, I see this as a sign of a terminal state. It seems inappropriate to simply call it a remnant. In some contexts, there are academically unique individuals who study this issue. Given Japan's illustrious past, I believe there is a psychological connection to pro-Japanese sentiments, similar to the logic of pro-Japanese factions from the past. This indicates that such forces still exist. However,

Currently, I am wondering if there is a solid political force that can support me. I believe that this is a case where our needs align. The current president has established an identity that is very conducive for their activities, allowing them to express themselves in a very comfortable manner. I see it in this context. 

There is a precedent in the past when the United States attracted international students by offering scholarships, inviting the world's top intellects to grow as students and then send them back as pro-American advocates. This was a policy that the U.S. implemented. Who mirrored this approach? It was Japan's former Prime Minister. At that time, he proposed to implement the same policy that the U.S. had adopted, aiming to attract about 100,000 international students, with the Ministry of Education providing the funding.

There are many people who receive scholarships from the Ministry of Education. In Korea, about 60 people are selected each year. Just because you receive a scholarship doesn't mean you will get 100% of the funding; in fact, if you receive about 50% to 60%, that is usually considered a great success. There is a scholarship called the Fulbright Scholarship. In Japan, the person who created the Fulbright Scholarship is known to be a former Japanese military officer. If you go to Washington, you can see that many researchers have been funded with that money. This can be seen as a policy aspect; in this context, the scholarship was given with a specific intention. In the past, during my time, the Fulbright Scholarship was used to select outstanding individuals and to distribute funding widely to dilute the influence of certain groups. Those who received this funding often engage in various positive activities towards Japan.

Of course, it involves us. For example, in the case of the Gwangseong Temple, there was also talk about the Battleship Island. We are currently experiencing the same phenomenon. Many of our ancestors lost their lives due to the harsh labor they endured during the forced mobilization on Battleship Island. When that culture was registered as a UNESCO heritage site, it was clearly stated that they were forcibly mobilized, and they received a promise in return for that registration. However, Japan did not keep that promise; they lied. So, in this case of the Gwangseong Temple, since they lied at that time, if you carry out what you promised, we will grant you our approval. This is simply a matter of common-sense diplomacy. But they did not do that; they just gave their consent. This cannot be considered diplomacy. In a way, it feels like they are driving a wedge in.

Have you heard? With a policy that nails down the situation so that there is no turning back, Japan seems to be pushing to quickly clear up all the current issues under the current South Korean administration. Even if a different administration takes over, they want to create a situation that cannot be reversed. It seems like our government is quite sympathetic and agreeing to this. From the perspective of ordinary people, this is quite concerning, and I think this might be due to one particular reason. If we define the founding day as 1948, what happens? It erases the existence of our country before that. Therefore, during the Japanese colonial era, it would be defined as a time when our nation was taken away. This would turn our ancestors, who fought for independence, into terrorists and would make them Japanese. All these problems arise from that fact.

In Japan, they do not label Ahn Jung-geun as a terrorist. This makes it seem rationally justifiable. It erases the temporary information that previously existed. If that happens, forced mobilization would have no legal issues, including the comfort women issue. Therefore, the effort to solidify the founding day as 1948 itself logically leads to such conclusions. If they truly think this way, it is utterly shocking. The collaboration during the Japanese colonial period could all be interpreted as loyalty to the homeland, logically. Living as a Japanese person meant being loyal to the Japanese Governor-General, and there is a possibility that this could be disguised as foreign activity. The notion of pro-Japanese collaborators has aspects like this, which cannot be taken lightly. However, in fact, looking at the current situation...

The government talks about this too, saying that they won't declare a founding day. So why do they keep insisting on it? This is how the outbreak occurs. Therefore, it won't be possible to enforce it, and we cannot just leave it alone. Officially, they say they won't do it, so there must be a problem. This is definitely not something we can compromise on. The reasoning is the same as why Japan's militarists were not purged. At that time, due to the Cold War, the Korean War broke out, and Korea was in chaos. From the perspective of the U.S. military government, they had divided the North and South. The North was a communist force, and for the U.S., it was a significant challenge to stop that immediately. So they allowed Japan to re-emerge. Initially, when the U.S. military entered Japan, they were considering how far to impose penalties, even thinking about turning it into a medium-sized non-military nation. But as soon as the Cold War broke out, they changed their approach.

It has changed, and as a result, there is an immediate need to do something organizationally. Those who have done this properly in the past are likely to do well again, from the perspective of the United States. They aim to bring back all those who were expelled from public office and utilize them. They believe it is much more efficient to use the same people who played roles during Japan's colonial era. This logic continues to unfold, and the same reasoning applies to Korea in this changing process. Additionally, during the colonial era, those who collaborated and thrived have significant wealth, and when they come back, they will resist fiercely, risking their lives. They have money, various networks, and power.

The independence movement fighters and ordinary people strongly resisted contact with the U.S. military. They didn't have the capability to organize anything systematically. On one side, people were risking their lives to resist, while on the other side, there were those who pushed forward with certain ideals and justifications. This made it very difficult in real society. Even now, we can see that the world is not a place where justice is realized. Most of the people who have wealth tend to prioritize their own interests, and there are many corrupt societies even today. So, what was it like back then? From the perspective of those orders, it was naturally very difficult for things to flow according to those ideals. This is part of the learning process. If there is no resolution, opportunism arises. People might approach those in power and act in ways that are far removed from justice, all for the sake of their own personal gain, without facing significant punishment.

So, then I will act for my own benefit. This mindset develops, right? During the Japanese occupation, even though people collaborated and betrayed the nation, they were not punished, which is where the psychological issue arises. What does it mean to live justly? Chasing my own interests seems to be the best option, doesn’t it? During the Japanese occupation, we did have a lot of independence movements. Starting with Dr. An Jung-geun and including Dr. Yoon Bong-gil, there aren't any figures like them in China. In the Shanghai museum, there are writings questioning why so many righteous individuals emerged from such a small nation like Korea, while none appeared in China. When you look at that, it shows that during that time, there were those who fought for our nation's autonomy and independence, even at the cost of their own lives.

There are records that remain, and I believe they provide a tremendous psychological foundation in Korea today. A professor from Ryukyu University in Okinawa talks about this. In the past, the Ryukyu Kingdom and Joseon had a very good relationship; they were close. At that time, Korea was paying tribute to China. The reason a small country like Korea was able to survive next to a large power without being destroyed was due to certain diplomatic skills. Okinawa experienced something similar back then. Okinawa, like Joseon, would come here and collaborate closely. However, during the Second Sino-Japanese War, when China was defeated, they completely gave up their sense of independence and decided to live as Japanese. That’s what they say. At that time, we abandoned all hope and could no longer...

There is no hope; I have no choice but to live as a Japanese person. I have given up and lived like this, which is my current state. Korea did not do that. Korea fought to the end, provided national education, and resisted. As a result, we gained independence and created such a wonderful country. Joseon was right. This spirit of those who fought for independence, even at the cost of their families suffering, flows strongly within Koreans. This is an immense asset in our history. In terms of Korea’s future generations, there are issues with pro-Japanese collaborators, but what’s important is that while engaging in the independence movement, we never let go of our own spirit. If we compare this with Okki, the difference is quite clear. In that regard, I think it’s necessary to look at both sides. I believe that these negative aspects will not last long; they are absolutely pathological.

I see this as a phenomenon; I don't think it's something that arises in a normal situation. I often talk about this, but there's something I call the last fireworks display. When one is coming to an end, it could be like oxidizing and disappearing with a final fireworks show. I think that could be seen as one last fireworks display. Today, the content is a bit different. We discussed the historical issues regarding Korea-Japan relations, and I hope to learn more about this in the future. If you found the content interesting so far, please subscribe, like, and set notifications. The same goes for the Korea-Japan match; I would appreciate it if you could subscribe and like.

버젓이 존재하는 친일 세력!? 왜 한국은 친일파 청산에 실패했나 l 일본전문가 이명찬 l 혜윰달, 생각을 비추다

명품 강의 채널 [캐내네 스피치]는 우리 사회 각 분야에서
전문적인 역량을 발휘하고 있는 인물,
자신만의 강연 테마로 대중들로부터 반향을 불러일으키고 있는 사람을 강연자로 초대해
해당 분야의 주제에 대해 흥미로운 지식과 공감의 향연을 펼칩니다.

비즈니스 문의 ssol@knn.co.kr
