Historical issues in Northeast Asia

With a new consultative body to address forced labor issues, the Yoon administration is seeking to prevent the issues that scuttled the 2015 "comfort women" agreement.

Tensions between the two are frozen over, but president-elect Yoon Suk-yeol has spoken of his interest in a thaw.

There has been a fundamental shift in the dynamics surrounding Japan-South Korea relations, with both sides hardening their approach.

Along with their different policies on North Korea, the two candidates also have different perspectives on Japan. 

The Seoul Central District Court ruling might help lower temperatures, but a political solution is needed to improve South Korea’s relations with Japan.

The decision seemed to contradict 2018 Supreme Courts rulings against Japanese firms, which had enraged Tokyo.

While relations have soured, pop culture exchanges are going strong – in both directions.

Academic freedom does not protect outright falsehoods and distortions.

The recent controversy over a Harvard professor’s article showcases how limited the space for debate and discussion on the issue has become.

While U.S. scholars and politicians criticized the article, it was defended by far-right activists in Japan – and South Korea.

The Japanese government rejected a court ruling on compensation for South Korean women forced into sexual slavery during World War II. 

Past history gives a blueprint the incoming administration can use to push for better relations between two important East Asian allies.