Under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, Japan’s political landscape is veering towards a more conservative stance, a shift that is complicating its relationship with South Korea. There are growing concerns that historical and territorial disputes may jeopardize the diplomatic progress the two nations have achieved. Traditionally, South Korea and Japan have maintained a “two-track” approach—separating contentious historical disagreements from areas demanding collaboration, such as security and economic alliances. However, South Korea’s Institute for National Security Strategy has recently highlighted that Japan’s rightward political trend could destabilize this delicate balance in bilateral diplomacy.
The rekindling of tensions is evident following visits by Japanese politicians to the Yasukuni Shrine, a site that stirs controversy due to its association with Japan’s wartime past. Additionally, Japan’s renewed assertions of sovereignty over the Dokdo islets, known as Takeshima in Japan but controlled by South Korea, have further strained relations. Although Prime Minister Takaichi abstained from visiting the shrine on August 15, the anniversary of Japan’s World War II surrender, she did send a ritual offering. This act, coupled with visits by other senior Japanese officials, drew formal protests from South Korea.
In South Korea, President Lee Jae Myung has adopted a more tempered response. While he acknowledges the historical grievances that persist between the two countries, he stresses the importance of maintaining and enhancing cooperation with Japan. The delicate nature of this relationship is underscored by expert warnings that unresolved disputes over history, territorial claims, and wartime controversies could undermine the “two-track” strategy unless both nations make tangible progress in expanding practical cooperation.
South Korea and Japan’s bilateral strategy aims to keep historical issues separate from cooperative efforts, yet the current political climate in Japan threatens this equilibrium. As relations are tested by Japan’s political shifts, the importance of nurturing diplomatic ties through practical collaboration is more critical than ever. Both nations face the challenge of ensuring that historical issues do not eclipse the need for cooperation in critical areas such as regional security and economic partnership.