Japan-South Korea Relationship

The Relationship between South Korea and Japan
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Introduction
The now seemingly thawing relationship between South Korea and Japan dates back to the 19th century. At that time, the Meiji government, consisting of military and business personalities, that ruled Japan embarked on elaborate deliberations to integrate Korea's politics with Japan. Consequently, in 1897, Japan proclaimed the Korean Empire as its protectorate. Later the former ruled the latter indirectly through the Japanese Resident-General of Korea. After annexing Korea, Japan unilaterally named Korea "Chosen," a name that existed until the end of its colonial rule. To be specific, the occupation of Korea by Japan set into motion a series of disagreements between the two, which has precipitated talks in recent years to warm the frigid relationship. What significantly helped Japan to occupy Korea successfully was its dramatic rise from the ashes of semi-colonial status and overcoming the Western challenge. Some of the factors that enabled it to overcome the challenge posed by Western powers included Japan elite's heightened awareness of the crisis the West posed. In addition, the elite was pragmatic and open to new ways of dealing with emerging problems. On the flip side, Korea has gradually emerged from the shadows of Japanese occupation and is trying to assert itself as a force to reckon with in Asia. However, in its bid, it acknowledges the existence of various dynamics that could negatively impact its objective. For instance, it views the competition between the United States and China with tremendous apprehension, given the acute consequences it portends. Changes in the U.S.-China relationship have resulted in opposing impacts on Korea, forcing the two Korean nations to strategically position themselves by employing contrasting mechanisms. Probably, that explains why South Korea is gravitating toward Japan through bilateral talks. When all is said and done, the talks with Japan promise to usher in a new paradigm shift in the Indo-Pacific. The relationship between South Korea and Japan, dating back to colonial times, has witnessed numerous historical feuds, lasting until the last few years; however, the latest bilateral summit promises to change the trajectory and improve the relationship between the two neighbors.[John K. Fairbank. n.d. East Asia: Tradition and Transformation. Harvard University.] [Victor Cha. 2021. No Space to Hedge: U.S. -China Competition and its Impact on Korea. Brookings Institution Press, 216.]
Background
To get an incisive understanding of the relationship between Japan and South Korea, it is prudent to look at the historical backgrounds of the two. Despite many challenges, Japan has remained relatively peaceful since the Meiji Dynasty. The Meiji leaders were a close-knit group, and they created a government they could direct from above with remarkable ease. As such, Japan overcame challenges posed by the West and set the stage for a golden age that began in the early 20th century. The nation moved with astonishing speed in all fields and closed the technological gap with the West at an incredible rate. However, at the end of the second world war, new staggering problems set in, including profou...