■Over 1,000 Korean inspection team and visitors attend the Japan-Korea Tunnel Karatsu-Nagoya Incline
Tours of the Karatsu Nagoya Inclined Shaft tunnel site from South Korea have been continuing continuously since the New Year this year, and by the end of July the number had exceeded 1,000, reaching 1,200 as of the end of August. Groups of junior high, high school, and university students have also visited during the summer holidays, and reservations are still being made for tours.
Each tour is carried out by a large bus that can accommodate 40 to 50 people. Most visitors come from Gyeongsang and Jeolla provinces in southern South Korea, where Busan Port is easily accessible, but some also come from the capital, Seoul. The tour is scheduled for an hour and a half in the morning, after visiting Karatsu Castle and Nagoya Castle Museum. After a progress report and a talk by Director Okubo Yoshitaka, participants take a commemorative photo in front of the tunnel entrance, see the end of the 540m tunnel, and then chat over watermelon in the plaza in front of the warehouse.
After this, we went up to the observation deck above the inclined shaft and looked out at the four Yobuko Islands and Iki, and then further west, at Korea. Of course, we couldn't even see Tsushima, so Korea was out of sight. After arriving at Hakata Port by boat from Busan, we finally got to leisurely look in the direction of our home country. To Koreans, Japan is the "closest foreign country." The weak yen is one factor, but we also seem to have a strong desire to see Japan.
There were no inspections for three weeks after the Kumamoto earthquakes on April 14th and 16th, but since then, things have gradually recovered. Anti-Korea, anti-Japanese sentiment will not create a future for Japan and Korea. "Even if we understand it intellectually, we cannot accept it emotionally." By increasing the number of exchanges, Japan and Korea are now at a time when they can feel new feelings and bring about a new wind.
The group will then visit Nagasaki, Aso, Beppu, Dazaifu, and other places to experience Japan. If the visitors spread the word about the project in South Korea, it will be a major step forward for the Japan-Korea Tunnel Project.
[Photo] Middle and high school students from Seoul and Gyeonggi Province, July 26th
[Photo] Looking closely at the bulletin board in the square
[Photo] Listening to a lecture by Director Yoshitaka Okubo
[Photo] Inspection team from South Jeolla Province, August 30th
