South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol Visits Keio University

2023/05/10

On Friday, March 17, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol visited the Mita Campus of Keio University to participate in an event titled "Korea-Japan Future Generation Lectures: President Yoon Suk Yeol Speaks with Students about the Future." It was the first time in 12 years that a South Korean president visited Japan solely for a bilateral summit rather than to attend a multilateral meeting.

The day before his visit to the Juku, President Yoon held a summit and joint press conference with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, announcing to the people of both nations the full-scale start of improvements in Japan-South Korea relations, which had been deteriorating for over a decade. Therefore, the opportunity for President Yoon to speak directly to students was highly significant not only for Keio University but also for the future of Japan-South Korea relations. As a specialist in contemporary Korean politics, it was a great honor and a deeply meaningful event for me to welcome the South Korean president to my alma mater, where I now teach.

When President Yoon arrived at the Mita Campus at 2:30 p.m., he was greeted with loud applause by over 150 students in the North Building Hall. In his welcoming remarks, President Kohei Itoh mentioned that during the Davos meeting in January, President Yoon had emphasized the importance of cooperation between countries that share the values of freedom, peace, and prosperity. President Itoh expressed his gratitude to President Yoon for visiting Keio University to engage in dialogue with the Japanese and Korean students who will lead that cooperation. About half of the students gathered in the hall were international students from South Korea, and they could not hide their joy at the visit of their country's president. After the President's greeting, President Yoon stepped to the podium, spoke to the students for about six minutes, and then spent approximately 30 minutes carefully answering questions from the students.

Regarding his visit to Japan, President Yoon began his public speaking by saying, "Normalizing bilateral relations itself has great meaning. In particular, as I conclude my schedule in Japan, I am truly moved to meet all of you, the future generation, and I have been looking forward to this time with you."

In his public speaking, he discussed the significance of Japan-South Korea relations and the importance of bilateral cooperation. "The fact that South Korea and Japan, as close neighbors, are liberal democratic nations based on universal values of freedom, human rights, and the rule of law has a special meaning in itself. It means that beyond simply following international norms and respecting each other, the two countries are trying to exercise leadership toward the common goals of peace and prosperity in the international community through solidarity and cooperation," President Yoon stated. He further expressed his view that "I believe that the joint efforts of South Korea and Japan, which share universal values, to improve and develop our relationship are in our common interest and are very important for world peace and stability." This content recalled the Yoon administration's goal since his inauguration on May 10 last year to become a "Global Pivotal State" that fulfills active international contributions while strengthening solidarity with liberal democratic countries, highlighting that improving relations with Japan and bilateral cooperation hold immense significance.

Since his presidential campaign, President Yoon has consistently included building a positive relationship—similar to the one established by the Japan-South Korea Joint Declaration in October 1998—as one of his diplomatic pledges. In his public speaking that day, he noted, "Twenty-five years ago in 1998, here in Tokyo, President Kim Dae-jung emphasized that we must not let a history of less than 50 years of misfortune render 1,500 years of exchange and cooperation meaningless." He appealed for government authorities and private sector leaders to join forces once again so that young people from Japan and South Korea can actively engage in various fields.

Using the keyword "courage," President Yoon repeatedly expressed his expectations for students to engage more actively in exchange and deepen communication between Japan and South Korea. "If you interact and cooperate freely and vigorously with Korean youth, the trust and friendship of the younger generation will follow, and it won't take long for us to feel that synergy," he said, emphasizing that students should lead the future of Japan and South Korea. Finally, he concluded his public speaking with a powerful message: "To everyone here and to myself, let's show a little more courage to make good friends and create an even better future. As a responsible politician of South Korea, I will show courage and do my best for the wonderful future of the younger generations of both Japan and South Korea."

Afterward, President Yoon carefully shared his thoughts on five questions from the students. Questions were raised regarding efforts to improve Japan-South Korea relations, the potential for bilateral cooperation, the significance of students thinking about Japan-South Korea relations, and the Yoon administration's foreign and security policies.

When the event ended, President Yoon left the venue slowly with a smile, shaking hands with each student nearby. It was also impressive to see him shaking hands firmly with students upon his entry at the start of the event. When students were asked for their impressions afterward, many said they were surprised by the South Korean president's very positive remarks regarding Japan-South Korea relations and that his message using the word "courage" left a lasting impression. The students' reactions demonstrated the great significance of a South Korean leader speaking directly to young people in Japan.

The successful completion of this important event—the visit of a South Korean head of state to the Juku—was due to the extraordinary efforts of the Keio University staff and South Korean Embassy officials who handled the advance preparations and the day's operations. They brilliantly overcame many challenges, including a short preparation period of less than a week after receiving the request from the South Korean government and security issues involved in welcoming a head of state. I would like to express my deep gratitude once again to everyone in the relevant departments, including the Keio Global Research Institute (KGRI).