BEYOND APOLOGIES: AN ANALYSIS OF KOREAN-JAPANESE FOREIGN RELATIONS THROUGH THE LENS OF THE COMFORT WOMEN ISSUE

From Japan’s avoidance to South Korea’s collective memory of times of forced occupation, suppression, and abuse, historical memory is stagnant, all-absorbing, and never-fading. This paper focuses on delving into the Japan and South Korea dynamics, examining the intricate interplay of historical memory surrounding comfort women and its consequential impact on the political stability of the East Asian region. Utilizing diverse research methodologies, including policy analysis, legal examination, and content analysis, this paper builds on the work of experts Gi-Wook Shin, Soon-Won Park, Gap-Min Pyong, and Marc E. Caprio. Between apologies lacking sincerity, prominent international attention to the comfort women issue, and the memory burden on the Korean population, reconciliation never seems to be enough.