Question

In 2021, quarrels between Japan and South Korea on issues such as territory, comfort women, and forced labor will attract the attention of the international community. Among the Japanese people, especially on the Internet, there can be obvious anti-Korean sentiments. In this case, I don’t know whether it was intentional or not. The Japanese version of Yonhap News Agency omitted “relationship” in the translation, downplayed the wording, and used “nearest neighboring country” in the report to describe South Korea’s “2021 Diplomatic White Paper” involving Japan. Although the report downplayed the sentiment, in the eyes of Japanese netizens, South Korea's "2021 Diplomatic White Paper" is a blunt "approach". In addition, some netizens also seized the loophole of the "nearest neighboring country" and laughed at the geographical knowledge of Koreans.

Answer 1

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The territorial disputes and historical issues between Japan and South Korea have been ongoing for decades and have strained their bilateral relations. The comfort women issue refers to the Japanese military's use of Korean women as sex slaves during World War II, and the forced labor issue refers to the use of Koreans as forced laborers by Japanese companies during the same period. These issues have caused deep resentment among the Korean people towards Japan.

Regarding the translation of South Korea's "2021 Diplomatic White Paper," it is important to ensure accuracy and neutrality in the reporting of international events. Any deliberate omission or alteration of the original text can lead to misunderstandings and further aggravate the already tense relationship between the two countries.

It is also unfortunate that some netizens use derogatory and insulting language to mock the geographical knowledge of Koreans. Such behavior is not acceptable and can further exacerbate the already tense situation between the two countries.

In conclusion, it is essential for both Japan and South Korea to address their historical issues and work towards improving their bilateral relations. It is also important for media outlets to report accurately and neutrally on international events to avoid further misunderstandings and tensions.