South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol Visits Keio University

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 Lecture: 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 conference.

Just the day before his visit to the Juku, President Yoon held a summit meeting and joint press conference with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, announcing to the people of both nations that the improvement of Japan-South Korea relations—which had been deteriorating for over a decade—had begun in earnest. 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 Mita Campus at 2:30 p.m., he was greeted with loud applause by approximately 150 students in the North Building Hall. In his welcoming remarks, President Kohei Itoh noted 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 South 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 relations between our two countries is of great significance in itself. In particular, as I conclude my schedule in Japan, I am truly overwhelmed with emotion 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 such as freedom, human rights, and the rule of law, has a special meaning in itself. This means that beyond simply following international norms and respecting each other, our two countries are trying to demonstrate 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 efforts of South Korea and Japan, which share universal values, to work together for the improvement and development of our relations are in our common interest and are extremely 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 nations, highlighting that improving relations and cooperation with Japan holds immense significance.

Since his presidential campaign, President Yoon has consistently held the establishment of good Japan-South Korea relations—similar to the 1998 Japan-South Korea Joint Declaration—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 1,500 years of history of exchange and cooperation be rendered meaningless by a period of unfortunate history lasting less than 50 years." He appealed for government authorities and private sector leaders to once again join forces so that the youth of Japan and South Korea can actively interact in various fields.

Addressing the students, President Yoon repeatedly expressed his expectations for more active exchange and deeper communication between Japan and South Korea, using the keyword "courage." He emphasized that students should lead the future of Japan and South Korea, stating, "If you interact and cooperate freely and vigorously with the youth of South Korea, it will bring about trust and friendship among the younger generation, and it will not take long for us to feel that synergy." Finally, he concluded his public speaking with a powerful message: "Let everyone here, and myself as well, show a little more courage to make good friends and create an even better future. As a responsible politician of South Korea, I will have the courage to do my best for the wonderful future of the younger generations of both South Korea and Japan."

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 arrival. When students were asked for their impressions after the event, 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 reactions of the students made clear the great significance of a South Korean leader speaking directly to young people in Japan.

The successful conclusion of this important event—the visit of the 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 preparations and the day's operations. They brilliantly overcame many challenges, such as the 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).