1947 was a watershed year for the Dokdo issue. Many think that the differences between Korea and Japan over the historical title to the island are what caused the Dokdo issue. From my studies, however, I came to learn that the Dokdo issue is a ramification, or one of the shadows, of the sway and decision power the U.S. exerted on the post-war policies for Northeast Asia. Therefore, it would be more accurate to say that the dispute over the sovereignty of Dokdo after the Second World War involves the U.S. as well and that it is a matter of regional and international politics rather than that of history. \"The idea for this book came about in 2001 when I was studying the U.S. State Department’s diplomatic documents from the 1950s in the National Archives and Records Administration. The records were telling a different story from what average Koreans know about Korea-Japan relations and the Dokdo issue. Although much of the documents about Korea-Japan relations and the Dokdo issue were still classified, I was able to see that the 1951 Treaty of San Francisco was the starting point of, as well as a turning point for, the U.S. policies and diplomatic decisions on Dokdo. So I started delving into the archives of the U.S., Japan, Korea, and the UK. I looked into how the San Francisco Treaty—which officially settled the war between Japan and the U.S.-led Allies—relates to Korea and how it became a turning point for Korea-Japan relations, Korea-U.S. relations, and U.S.-Japan relations. I found myself on a journey of exploring how the San Francisco system shaped the new post-war order in Northeast Asia; how Korea, the U.S., Japan, and the UK viewed and responded to Japan’s territorial issues including that of Dokdo; and how Korea-U.S. relations, U.S.-Japan relations, and Korea-Japan relations had changed over the years. This book is a summary of what I learned during my journey, and it delineates how and when Korea, the U.S., and Japan began introducing policies, as they became more aware of Dokdo after the Second World War, and how these policies evolved before and after the San Francisco Treaty.\" (_ Excerpt from the Preface)
This book is an English translation of the authoritative autobiography by the late South Korean President Kim Dae-jung. The 2000 Nobel Peace Prize winner, often called the Asian Nelson Mandela, is best known for his tolerant and innovative “Sunshine Policy” towards North Korea. Written in the five years between the end of his presidency and his death in 2009, this book offers a poignant first-hand account of Korea’s turbulent modern history. It spans the pivotal time span between the Japanese colonial period (1910-1945) and reconciliation in the Korean Peninsula (2000-2009). In between are insightful insider descriptions of everything from wars and dictatorships to the hopeful period of economic recovery, blooming democracy, peace, and reconciliation. Conscience in Action serves as an intimate record of the Korean people’s persistent and heroic struggle for democracy and peace. It is also an inspiring story of an extraordinary individual whose formidable perseverance and selfless dedication to the values he believed in led him to triumph despite more than four decades of extreme persecution.
This will help us customize your experience to showcase the most relevant content to your age group
Please select from below
Login
Not registered?
Sign up
Already registered?
Success – Your message will goes here
We'd love to hear from you!
Thank you for visiting our website. Would you like to provide feedback on how we could improve your experience?
This site does not use any third party cookies with one exception — it uses cookies from Google to deliver its services and to analyze traffic.Learn More.