Special lecture by Kim In-ho, Chairman of the Institute for Market Economy Research, at the Korea-Japan Tunnel Study Group's regular general meeting: "Only by properly settling Korea-Japan relations..."
▲ Former Presidential Vice President for Economic Affairs Kim In-ho gave a special lecture on Korea-Japan economic relations at the Korea-Japan Tunnel Study Group's 2020 Invitation Lecture and Regular General Meeting.
The Korea-Japan Tunnel Research Association's 2020 Regular General Meeting and Invited Lecture was held on the 17th at the Ibis Ambassador
Kim In-ho, former Blue House Chief Economic Advisor and former chairman of the Korea Trade Association, was specially invited to the regular general meeting that day and gave a speech titled "A Desirable Future Vision for Korea-Japan Economic Relations," attracting attention.
In his speech, Kim said, "Northeast Asia is currently in a state where the economic order since World War II has been reorganized with South Korea, China, and Japan at its core, but it appears that major countries surrounding the Korean Peninsula have begun competing for power in Northeast Asia. China's economic rise and ambition to become a global hegemon, the so-called 'China Dream,' are deepening conflict with the United States and neighboring countries."
Chairman Kim continued, "However, our government's position and efforts to respond to this reality are extremely far removed from the obvious goal of establishing an efficient relationship, and this has become an issue that is causing deep concern among experts."
▲Lee Young-heum, co-chair of the Korea-Japan Tunnel Research Association, gives a speech.
Regarding South Korea-Japan relations, he stated in particular that "the existing issues in the relationship remain unresolved, and new, more serious and fundamental issues (such as the termination of GSOMIA) have been created, pushing the relationship to its worst point." He stressed that "at this point, we need to put aside prejudice and self-righteousness about the relationship, reexamine it, and focus on improving the relationship from a future-oriented perspective."
Chairman Kim ended his speech with these beautiful words: "I would like to express my respect for the efforts of the Korea-Japan Tunnel Research Association and its members, who have made multifaceted efforts at the private sector to build an undersea tunnel that will dramatically improve relations between the two countries at this starting point for a new 50 years for both Korea and Japan, despite the many obstacles they have faced over the years."
Busan - Reporter Jeong Sang-hoo
This is a Japanese translation of the original Korean article from the Segye Ilbo on February 18, 2020.
Korea-Japan relations are steadily deteriorating... We must focus on improving relations from a future-oriented perspective.
