South Korea-Japan relations reached a new nadir under President Moon Jae-in, who left office earlier this year. The new Yoon Suk-yeol administration has promised a reset, and dispatched foreign minister Park Jin to Tokyo this week to help spearhead this effort.

There are numerous obstacles in the way, but none bigger than colonial-era grievances. While the 1965 Basic Treaty between the two countries was meant to settle this “completely and finally,” the Korean left has both pushed and allowed individuals to challenge this finality.