The Japan-Korea Normalization Process and Korean Anti-Americanism

Abstract

After a series of political struggles in Japan and Korea which led to violent student demonstrations in both countries, South Korean Foreign Minister, Dong Won Lee, and Japanese Foreign Minister, Etsusaburo Shiina met in Seoul on December 18 of last year and exchanged documents marking the successful ratification of the Japan-South Korea Treaty and Agreements. American interest in and support of the normalization of relations between the two countries did not strengthen positive popular feeling towards the United States in Korea. Observers of the Seoul 1965 student demonstrations in opposition to the normalization of relations Japan made note of a persistent anti-American tone. Probably the clearest indication of such undercurrents came in June of 1965, when, in a demonstration by about 3,000 students of Korea University protesting the signing of rapprochement treaties between Korea and Japan, a slogan appeared reading, Yankee, Keep Silent! Although this was one of the most overt expressions of anti-Americanism existing in student demonstrations in Korea, certainly criticisms of the United States, possibly staging the groundwork for student expression, can be found in the Korean press of recent years. In January of 1965, for example, an article appearing in the Hanguk Ilbo noted that the New Year was that of the Serpent, marking the sixty year cycle of the lunar calendar and the anniversary of the year that Japan imposed a protectorate treaty on Korea with the connivance of the U.S. and Britain.* The article then said: