{"id":2200801,"date":"2023-04-25T08:00:47","date_gmt":"2023-04-24T23:00:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/?p=2200801"},"modified":"2023-04-24T18:51:53","modified_gmt":"2023-04-24T09:51:53","slug":"yoon-defends-his-foreign-policy-approach-to-japan-and-ukraine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2023\/04\/yoon-defends-his-foreign-policy-approach-to-japan-and-ukraine\/","title":{"rendered":"Yoon defends his foreign policy approach to Japan and Ukraine"},"content":{"rendered":"
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol emphasized the importance of the alliance between South Korea and the United States during an <\/span>interview<\/span><\/a> with the Washington Post, calling it \u201cthe most successful alliance in history and, above all, an alliance based on values.\u201d Yoon also said during the interview that he has made efforts to improve relations with Japan despite <\/span>60% of South Koreans disapproving<\/span><\/a> his rapprochement. He defended his approach saying, \u201cI can\u2019t accept the notion that because of what happened 100 years ago, something is absolutely impossible [to do] and that they [Japanese] must kneel [for forgiveness] because of our history 100 years ago,\u201d and argued that South Korea\u2019s security concerns were too urgent to delay cooperation with Tokyo.<\/span><\/p>\n Regarding the Ukraine crisis, Yoon mentioned that it might be difficult for South Korea to insist only on humanitarian or financial support if the situation worsens. He stated, \u201cOf course, Ukraine is under an illegal invasion, so it is appropriate to provide a range of aid, but when it comes to how and what we will supply, we cannot but consider many direct and indirect relationships between our country and the warring countries.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Why It Matters<\/b><\/p>\n South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol\u2019s comments on improving relations with Japan follow Seoul\u2019s decision to <\/span>reinstate Japan to its whitelist<\/span><\/a> of preferential trading partners. As a result, Japan will receive preferential treatment in export approval procedures from South Korea. This move comes after South Korea removed Japan from its whitelist in 2019, in response to Japan removing South Korea from its own whitelist due to a dispute over compensation for wartime forced labor victims. Tokyo has not yet reciprocated Seoul\u2019s action.<\/span><\/p>\n A spokesperson for the main opposition Democratic Party questioned Yoon\u2019s allegiance, <\/span>asking<\/span><\/a>, \u201cWhich country is President Yoon Suk-yeol the president of for him to represent Japan?\u201d Yoon\u2019s approval rate may decline due to his remarks.<\/span><\/p>\n Regarding aid to Ukraine, Yoon did not elaborate on his statement about considering \u201cdirect and indirect relationships between our country [South Korea] and the warring countries.\u201d His ambiguity could be an attempt to maintain leverage in upcoming talks with U.S. President Joe Biden, who may seek firm commitments from Yoon on providing military aid to Ukraine.<\/span><\/p>\n