On Thursday, October 30th, the newly appointed Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi held her first summit with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, describing the meeting as “warm” and “pleasant”. The two East Asian democratic countries, which have been historical rivals, are seeking to approach each other, facing security and economic challenges together.
The Japan-Korea summit took place in Gyeongju, South Korea, ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, where both leaders had just had friendly talks with U.S. President Trump and reached agreements on trade and economic cooperation.
According to a summary of Lee Jae Myung’s speech provided by his office, he mentioned at the start of the Japan-Korea summit: “Given the turbulent international circumstances and trade environment, Korea and Japan have many points of commonality as neighboring countries. Therefore, I believe that now more than ever, we need to strengthen our cooperation for the future.”
Lee Jae Myung added, “As you know, there are many commonalities between Japan and Korea domestically. By sharing experiences and collaborating, I believe we can not only address domestic issues but also resolve international challenges.”
Sanae Takaichi, who was elected as the Prime Minister earlier this month, becoming the first woman to hold the position, is continuing Japan’s policy of deepening bilateral relations with South Korea.
She told reporters after the meeting that it was initially scheduled for 20 minutes but ended up lasting 45 minutes as she and Lee Jae Myung engaged in a very pleasant exchange of views. Takaichi said, “Lee Jae Myung warmly welcomed me, and we had a very enjoyable conversation.”
While acknowledging the existing differences between the two countries, Takaichi stated, “We will manage these differences through our leadership and will develop Japan-Korea relations in a forward-looking and stable manner based on the foundation established since the establishment of diplomatic relations.”
Analysts noted that the current positive state of bilateral relations between the two countries is not common in their post-war relationship. This reflects that Japan and Korea have recognized the need for joint efforts as allies to collectively face common security and economic challenges.
According to Nikkei Asia, Rintaro Nishimura, co-founder of the U.S.-Korea-Japan Next Generation Research Group, commented to Nikkei Asia, “Cooperation between Japan and Korea, as well as trilateral cooperation with the United States in addressing security and economic challenges, is necessary and inevitable.”
In recent times, the frequency of exchanges between the leaders of Japan and Korea has reached unprecedented levels. Lee Jae Myung visited Tokyo in August to hold a summit with then-Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. In late September, Lee Jae Myung hosted Ishiba in Busan, South Korea, for a meeting.
Previously, Japan and Korea had serious disagreements on issues such as visits to the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, and the sovereignty dispute over Dokdo, controlled by Korea. However, this period of hostility ended in 2023 when then-South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol facilitated a summit in Seoul and Tokyo, reviving exchanges between the two countries in industries, defense, and academia.
Earlier this year, Yoon Suk Yeol was impeached for attempting to impose martial law at the end of 2024 and was succeeded by Lee Jae Myung, from the progressive camp, in voter elections.
Lee Jae Myung had publicly opposed engagement with Japan in the past, insisting that Japan must show a more decisive remorse for its occupation of the Korean Peninsula from 1910 to 1945 to be a trustworthy partner.
However, since taking office in June, Lee Jae Myung, who had a previously tough stance, has adopted a reconciliatory approach towards Japan, describing the neighboring country as a necessary partner for Korea to address challenges such as trade, sluggish economic growth, and an aging population. The significant shift in his attitude towards Japan has surprised many observers.