The Korea-Japan Tunnel Study Group (co-chairman: Seo Yiz-taek, Lee Yong-bin), a general incorporated association that conducts research and promotion of Japan-Korea tunnels in South Korea, celebrated its 10th anniversary, and at the end of last year, the Korea-Japan Tunnel Study Group 10 Year History” was published. The ``Congratulatory Address'' written by our Foundation's Chairman Hirofumi Sato was published, and we would like to introduce it below.
Hirofumi Sato, Chairman of the International Highway Foundation (IHF)
Congratulations on the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Korea-Japan Tunnel Study Group. I sincerely congratulate you. Today, there is a growing national momentum to promote the Japan-Korea Tunnel in South Korea, and this major achievement is due to the fact that your research group is actively holding conferences, lectures, seminars, inspections, public relations activities, etc. in South Korea. We believe that this is the result of everyone's hard work and efforts over the past 10 years. I would like to express my sincere respect for his achievements and look forward to further development in the future.
I would like to borrow this paper to report on the IHF's reminiscences and prospects.
IHF has been working with Japan for approximately 30 years to promote the International Highway Initiative and to facilitate the early realization of the Japan-Korea Tunnel, which is part of the International Highway Initiative, based on the national agreement and national approval of Japan and Korea. It was established as a general incorporated foundation on January 9, 2009 by inheriting and reorganizing the international highway/Japan-Korea tunnel promotion project. And this year, on January 9, 2019, we will be celebrating our 10th anniversary.
The purpose of its establishment is to promote the realization of a peaceful, unified world by contributing to the freedom, peace, and prosperity of Japan, Asia, and the world through the ``International Highway Initiative'' advocated by President Sun Myung Moon. Particularly in Japan, we are promoting the early realization of a Japan-Korea submarine tunnel.
The specific contents of the project are: (1) social education, investigation, and research related to the promotion and enlightenment of the international highway concept; (2) international cooperation and assistance related to the construction and management of international highways; These activities include research, development, design, construction, and management of bridges, etc., (4) public relations and publication of the international highway concept, and (5) solicitation of donations.
The results of my work over the past 10 years are as follows. We have secured approximately 1.2 million square meters of land for survey slopes in three locations: Karatsu City, Saga Prefecture, Iki Island, and Tsushima Island, Nagasaki Prefecture. At the Karatsu site, a survey diagonal shaft has been excavated since 1986 and has reached a length of 580 meters. In Tsushima, approximately 800,000m2 of survey shaded land was secured in the Aren area, a 2km access road was laid, and the entrance to the diagonal shaft was excavated in 2014. I'm preparing. At the Iki site, a 150m access road leading to the survey shaft was completed in May last year, and preparations are underway to excavate the shaft entrance. What is noteworthy is that we have data on the ground surface of the area where the Japan-Korea tunnel is scheduled to pass, as well as seafloor topography and geological survey data on the Japanese side. For over 30 years, we have already invested over 10 billion yen in research, land acquisition, public awareness projects, etc., and are continuing to work toward the early realization of the Japan-Korea tunnel construction. .
In addition, we launched a national movement to gain support from the Japanese people, and in 2018, the ``Japan-Korea Tunnel Promotion Prefectural Council'' was completed in all 47 prefectures, and in November of the year before last, the ``Japan-Korea Tunnel Promotion A national conference was established. We are preparing to obtain national approval for the Japan-Korea tunnel construction by 2020.
・Japan-Korea government agreement reached for Japan-Korea tunnel construction by 2020
・Public enlightenment and campaign promotion centered on Diet members and experts
・Enrichment of technical information related to Japan-Korea tunnel construction (route design, creation of main tunnel design drawings, etc.)
・Start of survey diagonal shaft excavation in Tsushima for horizontal boring (approximately 5 billion yen)
The Japan-Korea tunnel will have economic benefits for both Japan and South Korea, as well as greater political and cultural benefits. The physical and spiritual benefits of Japan connecting by land to countries on the continent via the Korean Peninsula are immeasurable. This means that Japan will no longer be an island nation, and as a result, exchanges of people and culture will become more active, and the Japanese people will develop an Asian sense of community, which will provide an opportunity for the formation of an "East Asian Community."
For South Korea, dramatic economic development is expected as it becomes the logistics hub of the East Asian region, and the Korean peninsula will also become the center that can lead East Asia culturally, merging Eastern and Western civilizations. It can also become the cradle of a new civilization.
In this way, we are doing this for the sake of the prosperity and peace of both Japan and South Korea, as well as the prosperity and peace of Asia and the world, so we do not think that Japan's interests should be prioritized. The era of wanting only the interests of one's own country is now passing away. It is no longer possible for our own countries to prosper unless we break away from our own country-centered thinking to a pan-world, or global, perspective. To that end, I believe that Japan should play a leading role in realizing the Japan-Korea tunnel, even if it makes sacrifices in terms of human resources and finances.
Japan should use its economic and technological power to serve the world. By doing so, we can become a country that is loved and respected by the world. It will also atone for past mistakes during World War II, which caused great damage to neighboring countries in Asia. The trust and goodwill that a country naturally gains from such attitudes and actions are its greatest assets. We are conducting the international highway project with the intention of leaving a legacy to be proud of for the future.
Ideally, the construction would be funded by the national budgets of both Japan and South Korea, and the operation would be privately run using revenue from fares. With the method of covering the huge construction costs of at least 10 trillion yen through investments and loans from investors, banks, and other financial institutions, and repaying them with operating income, which is primarily based on fare revenue, it is difficult to secure sufficient fare revenue to match the cost. Therefore, it is impossible. Since the Japan-Korea Tunnel is an international public property, we believe that as a national project between the two countries, its construction should be led by the state.
In order for the Japan-Korea tunnel construction campaign to be successful, it is essential to persistently and continuously carry out the national enlightenment campaign by every means possible. To this end, we have completed the formation of the "Japan-Korea Tunnel Promotion Prefectural Council" in all 47 prefectures in Japan, and we are holding regular lectures and seminars, and through on-site visits to Karatsu and Tsushima, etc. We continue to advocate for the necessity, value, and effectiveness of the Japan-Korea Tunnel through grassroots campaigns.
However, what we need to do from now on is to expand the base of national support by appealing directly to each layer of the population using various media and public relations media, while working with national politicians, religious groups, and the business community to form public opinion. It is.
Before the main tunnel construction can begin, an advanced shaft must first be excavated, and in addition to this work, there are also other issues such as legal arrangements and securing the construction budget, so there are many things that need to be done. Even if all of this is in place and construction begins on the main mine, it will take at least 10 years to complete, so 2030 will be the shortest and fastest goal.
By strengthening national movements and lobbying politicians, the construction of the Japan-Korea Tunnel will be completed by 2020, with the national consensus of both countries. I sincerely hope that the two governments will reach an agreement to begin construction of the Japan-Korea Tunnel, and that the dream project of building the Japan-Korea Tunnel will progress to the stage where it will become a reality.
2019 marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, the confrontation between the United States and China, the year before the Tokyo Olympics, and turbulent internal and external events are expected, and relations between Japan and South Korea are at their worst. Precisely at such a time, our foundation must further deepen our cooperation with your organization and strengthen our efforts to realize the Japan-Korea Tunnel more than ever in order to promote Korea-Japan friendship and Korea-Japan integration. think. I pray for the further development of your association.
