Hyonhee Park, Minwoo park and Heekyong Yang
SEOUL (Reuters) – Jeong Se-ah feels happy to see Tanaka, a Japanese bar host character from the early 2000s created by a South Korean comedian, because he revives her teenage memories of watching animations from the neighbouring nation.
The 24-year old office worker, who is a South Korean, is part of the growing number of South Koreans attracted to Japan’s culture and products. They are now seeing Japan more as a friend rather than a foe, which colonised the nation 70 years ago.
Jeong, dressed in a retro-style costume inspired by Japan and with manga accessories, sang a song by a Japanese band that Jeong idolizes, X Japan, as a crowd waited for Tanaka’s concert to start near Seoul, South Korea’s capital.
“I like Tanaka more than his real self,” Jeong said. “There is something really charming and touching about him, and I’ve never seen an artist who tries so hard to make eye contact and communicate with every single fan.”
The character’s easy talk about Japan and its culture built on that allure, she added. “There was a social environment that sort of encourages boycotting Japanese culture, but people seem to be accepting it naturally,” Jeong said.
For his part, Kim Kyung-wook, a once forgotten comedian who has transformed the character into one of South Korea’s hottest YouTube stars and entertainers, said his appeal to the young mattered more than the reason for it.
“I think, for young people, it’s not about why, but just the fact they like something,” said Kim, who became fascinated by Japanese culture as a teenager, leading him to give the character a style and background missing from the Korean scene.
And his persona’s catchy manner of speaking, wolf-cut hairstyle, retro outfits and mastery of old Japanese and K-pop songs have contributed to that success.
Kim’s attitude demonstrates the change in attitudes amongst young Koreans as Japan’s ties thaw. Fumio Kishida’s May visit to Seoul, the first for a Japanese leader since 12 years, was marked by an unprecedented offer of personal condolences from him to wartime victim.
Today’s fervour for Tanaka, with nearly 800,000 Youtube followers, after gigs with famed K-pop stars, such as Taeyang of Bigbang, and a national tour that saw concerts sell out in minutes, is very different from the response to his 2018 debut.
Tanaka wasn’t popular when, between Seoul and Tokyo there were heated spats about their shared history during World War II.
Relations had plunged to their lowest in decades after rows over the neighbours’ history spilled over into trade disputes in 2019, casting a cloud over U.S.-led efforts to counter North Korea’s growing military threat.
DEMAND REBOUND
As young Koreans’ enthusiasm fuels a rapid rebound in the demand for Japanese consumer goods, the quarrels have been left behind.
Last month’s launch of a canned beer by beverage giant Asahi Group Holdings Ltd that is said to better replicate the experience of drinking the draft variety had many enthusiasts camping outside Costco stores in Seoul, ready to sprint to the doors when they opened.
“I’m not a huge fan of Japanese beer, but I saw it on social media, and it’s true that people’s perceptions of Japan have improved a lot,” said Son In-seok, 39, who waited for days to get his hands on the new beer in a convenience store.
South Korean imports rose by almost 250% in the first quarter compared with the same period last year, and nearly 300% in the second. Meanwhile, garments shipments increased by 47%.
It is a stark contrast to the 90% drop in Japanese beer imports in 2019 when feuds intensified and it became an early target for a boycott.
During Japan’s colonial rule between 1910 and 1945, some Korean victims of Japanese forced labour and military brothels demand compensation and an apology from Tokyo.
But officials say changing attitudes emboldened President Yoon Suk Yeol to risk political backlash with a March offer of compensation for such victims with funds from Korean corporates, rather than Japanese firms, as Seoul’s courts had ordered.
A January poll by Hankook Research showed Japan’s likeability score among Koreans was the highest since 2018, with those aged 29 or younger the most favourable.
China, which in 2019 scored twice as much as Japan, ranked at the bottom, along with Russia, and North Korea.
A March survey by the same pollster showed 40% of Koreans backed Yoon’s compensation plan, with 53% opposed. However, more than 50% of those aged 29 and under backed the plan.
James Kim said that the political dynamics of the region are causing the youth to have a less hostile view of Japan.
“China is clearly less preferred than countries like the United States and Japan,” Kim said, citing Beijing’s curbs on freedom in Hong Kong and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Even if younger people are not completely satisfied by South Korea’s efforts to resolve thorny historical issues, Kim added, “They see a more immediate threat and recognise the benefit of aligning with other like-minded democracies in the region.”
Clarence Fernandez, editor (Reporting: Hyonhee Park and Minwoo park; Additional Reporting by Heekyong Ya and Jimin Jung; Daewoung and Daekyong Kim)
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