Tokyo Shimbun Tokyo Shimbun (Chunichi Shimbun Tokyo Headquarters) On the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and South Korea, a new book outlining the future of relations between the two countries, “Sinceri

[Tokyo Shimbun] [Tokyo Shimbun (Chunichi Shimbun Tokyo Headquarters)] On the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and South Korea, a new book looking ahead to the future of relations between the two countries, “Sincerity and Friendship: A Former South Korean Ambassador to Japan Predicts the Future of East Asia” (by Park Cheol-hee), will be published on October 29th. ​
Tokyo Shimbun Press Release: October 22, 2025 [Tokyo Shimbun (Chunichi Shimbun Tokyo Headquarters)] On the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and South Korea, a new book looking ahead to the future of relations between the two countries, “Sincerity and Friendship: A Former South Korean Ambassador to Japan Predicts the Future of East Asia” (by Park Cheol-hee), will be published on October 29th. A leading South Korean international political scientist and Japan expert reorganizes a newspaper series he wrote over a period of more than nine years. Numerous in-depth essays that take into account not only Japan and South Korea, but also China, North Korea, and the United States will deepen your understanding of the situation in East Asia.
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The title, “Sincerity, Trust, and Friendship,” is a quote from Amenomori Hoshu, a Confucian scholar from the mid-Edo period who served the Tsushima Domain, which served as the diplomatic liaison with the Joseon Dynasty. He preached the importance of treating one’s neighbors with sincerity. In June 1965, Japan and South Korea signed the Treaty on Basic Relations between Japan and South Korea, normalizing diplomatic relations. Since ancient times, Japan has received various cultural artifacts from overseas via the Korean Peninsula, creating a relationship that could be described as “only separated by a narrow strip of water.” However, in modern times, amid the surge of imperialism as the great powers pursued territorial and vested interests, Japan also colonized the Korean Peninsula in 1910 and maintained its rule until its defeat in World War II in 1945. Coercive rule that disregarded the unique culture of the Korean people, such as the “creation of family names and changing one’s name,” instilled an indelible distrust of Japan among the Korean people. Even after the normalization of diplomatic relations, past grudges remained difficult to resolve, and relations between the two countries continued to fluctuate due to the continued existence of military dictatorships in South Korea. Issues such as the Takeshima Islands (known as Dokdo in Korean) in the Sea of ​​Japan, which South Korea effectively controls with its coast guard stationed there, former conscripted workers forced to do harsh labor in factories and other places in Japan during the war, and the comfort women mobilized from the Korean Peninsula by the former Japanese military, have also served as thorns in the side of the Korean people, leading to repeated conflicts and alienations. However, in East Asia, where two
authoritarian states—North Korea, which continues to push ahead with nuclear and missile development, and China, which is notable for its expansionism—are located side by side, Japan and South Korea share the commonality of being parliamentary democracies and are important trading partners with each other. While human exchanges were sparse immediately after the normalization of diplomatic relations, they have expanded year by year, and popular culture such as Korean dramas and K-POP has become widespread in Japan. Relations, both between the government and the private sector, are better than ever. Now celebrating its 60th birthday, Japan-South Korea relations can be said to have moved to a new stage. The author is a leading South Korean international political scientist and fluent in Japanese. He is highly regarded for his analytical skills on Japanese politics and has many acquaintances in the political world. This book is a compilation of extensive columns that the author contributed monthly to the Tokyo Shimbun and Chunichi Shimbun over a nine-and-a-half-year period, from January 2012 to June 2021. His accurate analysis of events, calmly examining them from multiple perspectives across a wide range of fields, including politics, economics, military affairs, and civilian exchanges, not only covers Japan-South Korea relations but also China, North Korea, and the United States, which exerts a major influence on East Asian affairs. His analysis remains timeless. The author also served as South Korean ambassador to Japan from August 2024 to July 2025, where he devoted himself to promoting exchanges between the two countries. This book also includes an excerpt from a lecture he gave in Nagoya in late June of this year, just before leaving his post. To transform South Korea, often described as a “close yet distant neighbor,” into a “close yet close neighbor.” After reading this book, you may begin to see South Korea and East Asia in a different light. [Book Structure] Chapter 1: Commemorating the 60th Anniversary of the Normalization of Diplomatic Relations between Korea and Japan (Summary of a Lecture Given by the Author in Nagoya on June 27, 2025) Chapter 2: Outlook for Korea-Japan Relations Chapter 3: Examining the Situation Surrounding North Korea Chapter 4: A Panoramic View of East Asia [Author Profile] Park Cheol-hee: Born in Chungju, North Chungcheong Province, South Korea in 1963. Received a Master’s degree in Political Science from Seoul National University Graduate School and a PhD from Columbia University Graduate School. After serving as a professor at the Graduate School of International Studies at Seoul National University, director of the Seoul National University Institute of International Studies, director of the Institute of Japan Studies, and dean of the National Diplomatic Academy, he served as the ROK Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Japan from August 2024 to July 2025. He is currently a professor emeritus at Seoul National University. He is known as one of South Korea’s leading international political scientists with a strong Japan-friendliness, and has many acquaintances in Japanese politics. His Japanese publications include “How Representatives Are Created: Election Strategies for Single-Seat Constituencies” (Bunshun Shinsho). [Bibliographic Information] Release Date: October 29, 2025
Specifications: 46-size, paperback, 292 pages Price: ¥2,200 (¥2,000 tax) ISBN: 978-4-8062-0834-1 : Chunichi Shimbun (also published by Tokyo Shimbun)
https://www.tokyo-np.shop/c/itemlist/tokyo/books [Notice] Due to organizational restructuring at Chunichi Shimbun, the Tokyo Shimbun Publishing Department was merged with the Chunichi Shimbun Publishing Department on August 1st of this year, and the publisher was consolidated under “Chunichi Shimbun.” Editors will continue to be based at the Tokyo Shimbun, and we will publish our newly established independent label, “Tokyo Shimbun Books.” This book is one of those titles. We will also continue to publish previously published books. We hope you will continue to read “Tokyo Shimbun Books.”