Sekai Ilbo (Korea) December 11, 2017
Starting from the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, continuing to the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics, and the 2022 Beijing Olympic Games, the construction of an undersea tunnel between Korea and Japan will be actively used as a shortcut to peace and prosperity in Northeast Asia. There are voices saying that there is a need to do so.
On the afternoon of the 11th, Sekai Ilbo President Cha Joon-young gave a congratulatory speech at the ``2017 International Symposium on Unification of the Korean Peninsula and Realization of Peace in Northeast Asia - Ripple Effects of the Korea-Japan Tunnel in Northeast Asia'' held at the Yeouido National Assembly Building in Seoul. state
Shin Chan-chul, Professor of Japanese Language and Literature at the University of Tokyo, attended the Yeouido National Assembly Building in Seoul on the 11th with the World Peace Road Foundation (Korean President Song Kwang-seok) and the office of Congressman Lee Chan-yeol. At the ``2017 International Symposium on Unification of the Korean Peninsula and Peace Realization in Northeast Asia,'' which was co-hosted with the theme ``Ripple Effects of the Korea-Japan Tunnel in Northeast Asia,'' it was stated that ``If the Korea-Japan Undersea Tunnel is constructed, it will be connected to the Trans-Korean Peninsula Railway (TKR).'' The Eurasian continent will be connected by rail transport through China, Mongolia, and Russia." ``South Korea will be the country that will benefit the most.''
Professor Shin emphasized, ``The Korea-Japan Tunnel will be an opportunity for the people of both countries to renew their historical understanding, and it could be a shortcut to resolving conflicts over territorial disputes and building future-oriented Korea-Japan relations.'' Regarding the cost of constructing a Korea-Japan tunnel, Professor Shin analyzed that Japan should share 70% of the construction cost and South Korea 30% based on territory. The distance between South Korea's Geoje Island, or Busan, and Japan's Tsushima Island is approximately 50km, and the distance covered by South Korea, based on international standards, is only around 25km. The expected construction period is 10 to 15 years, and the total construction cost is estimated to be 100 trillion won.
Congressman Lee Chanyeol receives commission from Korea Chairman Song Kwangseok
On this day, Chung Teik, honorary president of the Korean Diplomatic Association, who assumed the chair of the symposium, said, ``Next year marks the 20th anniversary of the Korea-Japan Joint Declaration of Kim Dae-jung and Obuchi,'' for a new Korea-Japan partnership heading into the 21st century. ``Next year, President Moon Jae-in and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will likely make announcements regarding new Korea-Japan relations, but I think the most important project among them will be the Korea-Japan tunnel construction project,'' he said. received applause.
Shinichiro Nagano, professor emeritus at Daito Bunka University, said, ``Construction of the Korea-Japan Tunnel will contribute to the peace and stability of the Northeast Asian region, including the Korean peninsula.'' The Winter Olympics are a great opportunity, and if we cooperate with each other, we will hasten the realization of the Korea-Japan Tunnel and peace in Northeast Asia."
On this day, in a congratulatory speech, Rep. Lee Chan-yeol (People's Party, Suwon City A) said, ``The need for a Korea-Japan undersea tunnel was first raised in political circles in 1990, and since then, former presidents Kim Dae-jung, Roh Moo-hyun, and Lee Myung-bak have also endorsed it.'' ``The Korea-Japan submarine tunnel goes beyond revitalizing the economy of a specific region and opens up a new future for the Republic of Korea, and more broadly, a new horizon for Northeast Asia. "There is not a single one," he emphasized. Rep. Lim Jeong-seon (both Democratic Party and Gwangju City, Gyeonggi Province) said, ``Just as the Eurotunnel was built between Britain and France, which were historically enemies, and the European Community began, South Korea and Japan We hope that connecting the two countries through a tunnel will serve as a signal for a new history toward common prosperity and peace, in contrast to a history marked by past invasions, conflicts, and conflicts.''
The discussion
Chairman Song Kwang-seok said, ``Sun Myung Moon and President Hak Ja Han, who founded the World Peace Highway Foundation, advocated for an international peace expressway in order to connect the world into one transportation network and realize peace in the global village. ``The Korea-Japan Tunnel has the meaning for Japan of clearing up its past bad relations and moving forward to a new future, and for Korea it has the meaning of growing as a central nation in Northeast Asia through reconciliation and forgiveness.'' I said.
On this day, two members of Congress, Lee Chan-yeol and Im Jeong-seon, accepted advisory positions and received commissions from the World Peace Highway Foundation with the aim of actively cooperating with the Korea-Japan Undersea Tunnel Promotion Project.
Reporter Kim Min-seo
This article has been translated from Korean to Japanese.
You can download the Japanese translation PDF here.
You can download the original PDF here.
