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Korea (both North and South) and Japan have had disputes on many issues over the years.

The two nations have had an often antagonistic relationship, despite sharing many cultural ties. Historical and archeological records indicate that Koreans transmitted to Japan such developments as rice farming, shamanism, ceremonial burial, pottery techniques, iron and bronze working, Chinese writing system, and Buddhism. However, subsequent Japanese invasions and the 1910-1945 annexation of Korea underlies the two side's current political relations.

Today, Japan and South Korea are major trading partners and many students, tourists, entertainers, and businesspeople travel between the two countries. North Korea has little political or economic relations with Japan. The following unresolved issues continue to make headlines regularly, and issues arising from Japan's militant past also often involve China and other Asian countries.

World War II Issues

Japanese Occupation of Korea

Main article: Korea under Japanese rule

Beginning with an "Unequal Treaty" in 1876, Japan increased its control of Korea, which was previously in China's sphere of influence. Korea was annexed by Japan between 1910 and 1945, and Koreans generally view this period as one of brutal exploitation and suppression of Korean culture. Some Japanese scholars claim that the occupation helped form the foundation for the industrialisation and modernisation of Korea today.

Japanese politicians have issued broadly worded apologies many times, and Japan signed a reparations treaty with South Korea in 1965. Koreans see Japan's actions on various issues listed here as evidence of a lack of sincerity, and continue to call for sincere repentance and full reparations for victims.

Yasukuni Shrine

Main article: Yasukuni Shrine

Visits by Japanese leaders to Yasukuni Shrine, dedicated to those who fought on behalf of imperial Japan, have ignited protests in Korea, China, and other Asian countries. In 1978, 14 convicted Class-A war criminals and about 1,000 others convicted for war crimes during World War II were secretly enshrined. The shrine's publications even began defending, even glorifying, Japanese war atrocities. Though Japanese emperors have not visited the shrine since, three Japanese leaders have paid their respects there. Current prime minister Junichiro Koizumi has visited five times since taking office in 2001.

Comfort Women

Main article: Comfort Women

The Korean government has demanded compensation for women who were forced to work in military brothels during World War II for Japanese imperial soldiers. As the few surviving comfort women continue to struggle for acknowledgment and apology, the Japanese court system ruled that compensation issues should be handled by private funds, not through official channels.

History Textbooks

The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) reviews the content of school history textbooks available for selection by schools in Japan. Foreign scholars, as well as many Japanese historians, have criticized the political slant and factual errors of some textbooks that have been approved. After the revisionist Tsukurukai's textbook passed inspection in April 2001, South Korea demanded the revision of 25 parts of the textbook, to no avail. This aroused resentment among supporters of the book who felt that Korea was interfering in Japanese domestic affairs. So far, Tsukurukai's textbook has been adopted by less than 0.1% of the schools, but has become a bestseller in the general book market.

In both North and South Korea, only one series of history textbooks each, which is published by the government, are allowed for use in schools. Some Japanese scholars claim that these textbooks use biased information in criticizing Japan and the Japanese occupation of Korea.

Geographic disputes

Dokdo/Takeshima

Main article: Liancourt Rocks

Although South Korean-controlled currently and for most of its history, these islets are claimed by Japan. Called "Dokdo" in Korean and "Takeshima" in Japanese, but also known as the Liancourt Rocks, the islet's surrounding waters have rich fishing grounds and possible reserves of natural gas. North Korea supports the South Korean claim.

The Dokdo/Takeshima dispute has caused outrage among Koreans when Japanese politicians revived Japan's claims. There is apparently less awareness of the dispute among the Japanese.

Tsushima/Daemado

Main article: Tsushima Island

Although Japanese-controlled currently and for most of its history, this island is claimed to be Korean by some Koreans, although not by the South Korean government. Called "Tsushima" in Japanese and "Daemado" in Korean, it has received substantial Korean influence due to its proximity to Korea. Briefly during the Joseon Dynasty, and possibly during the Silla era, it was Korean-controlled.

In 2005, when Japan's Shimane prefecture announced Takeshima Day claiming the Liancourt Rocks as part of its jurisdiction, Korea's Masan city council proclaimed Daemado Day and declared it Korean territory.

Sea of Japan/East Sea

Main article: Sea of Japan naming dispute

Both North and South Korea insist that Japan unfairly promoted the standardization of the name "Sea of Japan" while Korea effectively lost control over its foreign policy under Japanese imperial expansion. The two Koreas say that the name "East Sea" (or the "East Sea of Korea" in North Korea's case) should be the official name instead of, or at least concurrently with, "Sea of Japan". Japan claims that most Western countries named it the "Sea of Japan" in the late 1800's, prior to the annexation of Korea in 1910.

Other issues

Ban on Japanese Culture

After liberation from Japanese occupation, both North and South Korea banned Japanese cultural products such as music, film, and books. In recent years, South Korea lifted most of these bans in order to join trade organizations. But due to lingering popular resentment and the South Korean government's investment in the South Korean entertainment industry, there has not been a significant increase in Japanese cultural imports.

Kidnapping of Japanese Citizens

In 2002, North Korea admitted to kidnapping 13 Japanese citizens during the 1970s and 1980s. Five have been released, but eight were claimed to have died since. Japan has pressed for the return of the bodies. Many more Japanese citizens are believed to have been kidnapped and held captive in North Korea, however, and some say there may even be hundreds of such captives.

Zainichi Koreans

Main article: Zainichi Korean

Zainichi (Resident Japan) refers to Koreans residing in Japan. Most of them are second-, third-, or fourth-generation Koreans who are not Japanese citizens, forced or pressured to relocate to Japan during Japan's occupation of Korea, while others later entered Japan in order to escape the Korean War. Japan revoked their Japanese citizenship after the occupation, and their country of origin, Korea, no longer existed when South Korea and North Korea became separate states. Zainichi communities are split based upon affiliation with North or South Korea. Many Koreans living in Japan use Japanese names to hide their origin, in order to avoid discriminatory treatment.

Korea instead of Corea

Main article: Names of Korea

Some Koreans claim that Japan intentionally promoted the spelling of Korea instead of Corea during the colonial era, because K comes after J in the Latin alphabet. Both spellings can be found in old maps, but the prevalence of one over the other and the reasons for the dominant use of "Korea" today remain in dispute.

Related articles

• Japanese-Korean relations
• Treaty on Basic Relations between Japan and the Republic of Korea
• List of war apology statements issued by Japan
• Sea of Japan naming dispute

• Japanese-Korean relations