Relationship Between South Korea and Japan
Students brief 12 page papers. Students will prepare a one-page outline noting the main question addressed in their 12 page paper, and the main line of discussion, analysis, and/or argument in their paper. After the one-page outline, please list the interesting findings of or challenges encountered in the research and analysis of the project.
Final Paper Proposal
1. What is the central question to be addressed by my 12-page paper?
My paper subject will focus on the relationship between South Korea and Japan, especially Korea during the Japanese colonial period until the recent summit. The question will focus on recent events: Japan, South Korea renew ties at Tokyo summit, why the two countries changed their diplomatic attitudes, and what this incident implies. And to identify and explain the historical issue or issues most important in relations over the past year or two and explain why it is/they are the most important in this period.
2. How do they plan to answer this question--what kinds of sources do they intend to use to answer this question?
With regard to historical events during the Japanese colonial period and before, our textbooks can be used as citation sources to support an overview of the historical context. However, regarding recent international events, as well as the recent summit between the two countries, relevant news reports will be cited, and analysis on geopolitics will be supported by extracurricular materials.
3. What problems or issues, if any, do they foresee in answering this question?
Articles need to balance the proportion of overview of past historical events and the modern international events.
Outline
Student’s Name
Course
Date
* Introduction
* Explaining the relationship between South Korea and Japan, dwelling largely on Korea, during the Japanese colonial period until the recent summit.
* Exploring how Japan rose from its semi-colonial status and how it overcame the great challenge posed by the Western powers in the nineteenth century highlighting Japan’s significance in the Asia-Pacific Region.[John K. Fairbank n.d. East Asia: Tradition and Transformation. Harvard University.]
* How Korea views the competition between the United States and China and how it is strategically positioning itself. How the relationship has impacted South Korea’s relationship with the United States.[Victor Cha. 2021. No Space to Hedge US-China Competition and Its Impact on Korea. Brookings Institution Press.] [Cha 2003.]
* How the bilateral summit promises to improve the relationship between Japan and South Korea.
Thesis Statement: The relationship between South Korea and Japan, dating back to colonial times, has witnessed innumerable historical feuds, which lasted until the last few years; however, the latest bilateral summit promises to change the trajectory and improve the relationship between the two neighbors
* Background
* A. Historical Overview of Japan: Despite numerous challenges, Japan has remained relatively peaceful since the Meiji dynasty.[Fairbank]
B. Historical overview of the relationship between South Korea and Japan.[Yi Wei. 2019. Japanese Colonial Ideology in Korea (1905-1945). October. http://yris.yira.org/essays/3523.]
C. How the two countries can improve their relationship with respect to the Tokyo summit.
* Major point 1: How Japan and South Korea related to each other before and during colonial times.
* Even though Japan regarded Koreans as their kith and kin, they held a low opinion of them, which led to the occupation of Korea.[Wei]
* Korea eventually managed to free itself from the clutches of Japan.[Ku Daeyeol. 2021. "Korea 1905–1945: From Japanese Colonialism to Liberation and Independence." 2: 1-496]
* The regional influence of Japan and how it overcame the challenge posed by Western countries.[Michael Yahuda. 2011. The Cold War, 1945–89. Routledge.]
* Major point two: The implications of South Korea’s closeness to the United States.[Cha 2009]
* Major point three: The relationship between the two countries in the recent past and efforts for reconciliation.[Antony Kuhn. 2023. Japan and South Korea renew ties in first summit in 12 years. March 16. /2023/03/15/1163633429/japan-south-korea-summit.]
* Major point five: Why the two countries changed their diplomatic attitudes and the implications of the Tokyo summit.[Frank Aum and Mirna ...