Yoon Suk Yeol on Japan

President Yoon Suk Yeol made improving relations with Japan a central pillar of his foreign policy upon taking office in 2022, marking a significant shift from his predecessor. His government's core stance involved seeking a resolution to wartime labor disputes that had long soured bilateral ties, opting to use a third-party foundation funded by South Korean donations rather than demanding direct compensation from Japanese companies, a move praised by the United States. This approach was framed as necessary pragmatism to advance trilateral security cooperation with the U.S. against shared regional challenges like North Korea, China, and Russia, thereby institutionalizing closer ties.

This push for a closer relationship, however, was deeply controversial domestically, drawing criticism from liberals and some conservatives in South Korea who viewed the moves as a diplomatic concession or a betrayal of historical victims. His administration emphasized that historical issues needed to be settled to focus on current and future cooperation, a stance evident in efforts to revive shuttle diplomacy and improve security coordination. The sustainability of this rapprochement was always linked to reciprocity from the Japanese side and was later thrown into jeopardy by the president's impeachment in April 2025.