Under former South Korean President Moon Jae-in, bilateral ties between the two states deteriorated to what many considered its lowest point in several decades.
Tokyo’s decision to remove South Korea from the export whitelist stemmed largely from diplomatic contention surrounding the forced labor dispute.
In the same vein, although K-culture has brought about many positive changes for the Japanese, they still harbor negative images of South Korea.
One area where Japan could improve is by seeking a deeper emotional understanding of South Korea beyond practical considerations.
South Korea and Japan, therefore, must enhance their strategic communication and address these issues hand in hand.

Interview With Dr. Choi Eunmi: Can the Japan-South Korea Friendship Endure?