{"id":2200693,"date":"2023-04-11T18:06:48","date_gmt":"2023-04-11T09:06:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/?p=2200693"},"modified":"2023-11-20T18:36:13","modified_gmt":"2023-11-20T09:36:13","slug":"how-k-pop-and-anime-help-south-korea-and-japan-rebuild-their-relationship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2023\/04\/how-k-pop-and-anime-help-south-korea-and-japan-rebuild-their-relationship\/","title":{"rendered":"How K-pop and anime help South Korea and Japan rebuild their relationship"},"content":{"rendered":"
The relationship between South Korea and Japan has been fraught with hostility for years. But one consistent element of their relationship is the influence of soft power, which facilitates regular cultural exchange between the two countries.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n It may prove to be a critical factor in maintaining positive relations in the years to come. However, it remains to be seen whether this current mood of rapprochement is sustainable.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Despite being two of the most powerful democracies in Asia and natural allies against geopolitical threats such as North Korea and China, South Korea and Japan regularly go through cycles of turbulence over political and historical issues.<\/span><\/p>\n BON VOYAGE<\/b><\/p>\n Since Japan <\/span>reopened<\/span><\/a> its borders in Nov. 2022, tourism levels have been gradually returning to pre-pandemic levels. Japan had one of the world\u2019s most <\/span>rigorous<\/span><\/a> COVID-19 border policies, severely <\/span>impacting<\/span><\/a> its international tourism industry.<\/span><\/p>\n Even before the pandemic, South Korea-Japan relations reached a nadir during the Moon administration. Data from the Japan Tourism Agency showed that South Korean tourists to Japan <\/span>decreased<\/span><\/a> by over 65% in Oct. 2019 compared to the same month the previous year.<\/span><\/p>\n This occurred during critical disputes over issues such as the <\/span>trade war<\/span><\/a> and the forced Korean labor <\/span>legal case<\/span><\/a>, indicating that political tensions can have tangible effects on South Koreans\u2019 willingness to visit Japan.<\/span><\/p>\n Interestingly, not everything was entirely negative during this period. While the number of South Korean tourists to Japan decreased, the number of Japanese tourists to South Korea <\/span>increased<\/span><\/a> by 33%.<\/span><\/p>\n Deteriorating diplomatic ties also did not affect people-to-people relations on an individual basis. When South Korea began re-issuing tourist visas in mid-2022, <\/span>hundreds<\/span><\/a> of Japanese residents waited in line at the ROK Embassy in Tokyo, resulting in staff having to limit the number of applications.<\/span><\/p>\n These events suggest that Japanese people are more willing to visit South Korea, regardless of political disputes, while South Koreans require more reassurance before traveling.<\/span><\/p>\n With the recent improvement in ROK-Japan relations, South Koreans are finally visiting Japan again. The latest data shows South Koreans account for the <\/span>highest number<\/span><\/a> of inbound tourists, with over 566,000 visitors in Jan. 2023 alone. Additionally, both countries have <\/span>resumed<\/span><\/a> high-speed ferry service after a three-year hiatus.<\/span><\/p>\n Both South Korea and Japan\u2019s tourism industries desperately need revitalization in a post-pandemic world. As South Koreans\u2019 decision to visit Japan tends to be more influenced by political problems than Japanese people\u2019s decision to visit South Korea, Tokyo would have more money to lose if relations deteriorated due to political tensions.<\/span><\/p>\n