The 23rd Korea-Japan Forum was held in Seoul on December 27–29, 2015, convening 50 participants from both countries, including influential politicians, businesspeople, scholars, journalists, and representatives of private exchange organizations. As this year marks the 50th anniversary of the normalization of Korea-Japan relations as well as the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, discussion about how to deepen Korea-Japan relations over the next half-century featured prominently in each session.
In Session 1, participants spoke more candidly than ever before about issues that continue to trouble Korea-Japan relations, such as disputes over history and comfort women. Following that, participants discussed trends in China and North Korea, and in the final session they outlined Korea-Japan economic relations and grassroots exchanges, offering detailed recommendations on how to improve relations between the two countries. At a dinner reception that Minister of Foreign Affairs Yun Byung-se hosted, he spoke optimistically about his impression that Korea-Japan relations are improving.
On the final day, 18 students from both countries were brought together for the inaugural Junior Korea-Japan Forum to discuss the future of Korea-Japan relations. The students concluded the forum with a resolve to work towards building friendly relations between the countries.
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August 27
Session I: Reviewing 50 Years of Korea-Japan Relations
- Evaluating 50 years of Korea-Japan Relations
- The Current State of Korea-Japan Relations and Remaining Challenges
Chair
WAKAMIYA Yoshibumi, Senior Fellow, JCIE
CHUNG Ku Chong, Chairman, Korea-Japan Cultural Exchange Council
Panelists
OKONOGI Masao, Professor Emeritus, Keio University
JIN Chang-Soo, President, Sejong Institute
Dinner hosted by Korean chair, YU Myung Hwan
August 28
Session II: The State of Northeast Asian Relations and the Regional Security System
- Regional Security: Korean and Japanese Policies
- Korean and Japanese Strategic Responses to the Rise of China
- Deciphering Conditions in North Korea
Chair
OKAWARA Akio, President, JCIE
PARK Joon-woo, Chairman, Sejong Institute; Former Senior Secretary to the President for Political Affairs
Panelists
TANAKA Hitoshi, Chairman, Institute for International Strategy, Japan Research Institute, Ltd.
KOKUBUN Ryosei, President, National Defense Academy of Japan
YUN Dukmin, Chancellor, Korea National Diplomatic Academy
MOON Chung-in, Professor, Yonsei University
Session III: Forging New Relationships between Korea and Japan (PART 1)
- Korea-Japan Economic Relations and Grassroots Exchanges
Chair
OKONOGI Masao, Professor Emeritus, Keio University
SHIM Kyu Sun, Associate Executive Director, Donga Ilbo
Panelists
TAKASUGI Nobuya, Senior Advisor, KIM&CHANG; Former Chairman, Fuji Xerox Korea Co., Ltd.
SHIN Kak-Soo, Former Ambassador to Japan
Session III: Forging New Relationships between Korea and Japan (PART 2)
Dinner hosted by YUN Byung-se, Minister of Foreign Affairs
Proposal for Improving Relations
August 29
Session VI: Korea-Japan Junior Forum: Role of the Next Generation in the Future of Japan-Korea Relations
Chair
KOHARI Susumu, University of Shizuoka
CHANG Jekuk, President, Dongseo University
