January 5 – 12, 2020
While the relationship between South Korea and Japan had never been… overly close, recent events seemed to indicate a new low. Historical issues were, once again, bubbling to the surface. And in all levels of the relationship – political, economic, and military – the relationship was suffering.
Within this atmosphere, I was cautiously enthusiastic to attend the 7th U.S.-ROK-Japan Trilateral Conference. Surpassing the bilateral relationship that was emphasized during our Korea-America Student Conference, this conference would accentuate the trilateral relationship – and allow us to meet the Executive Committee of the Japan-America Student Conference.
Here are some highlights from our week together!
The 7th U.S.-Japan-Korea Trilateral Symposium – January 10, 2020
This symposium was, perhaps, the professional highlight of our conference as a whole. There were two different panels: one focusing on the Impact of Social Media on Trilateral Relations, and the other about the Future of Trilateral Relations. The panels would feature two expert panelists, and two student panelists, one from each conference. Together with my JASC counterpart, I would be speaking as a panelist for the Future of Trilateral Relations Panel… and I was deeply nervous. It was absolutely nerve-wracking to realize that not only was I representing KASC, I was also, unofficially, representing the Korean-American perspective. While my JASC counterpart and I had prepared the day before, we both rose to take our seats at the front table with shaking hands. Of course, they ended up seating us on opposite ends of the long table. In between, were notable experts on the subject. While it was definitely interesting to hear their remarks – comments leaning more toward negativity than the opposite – it was also difficult to focus, considering that I needed to be able to respond to their remarks if asked. But as our moderated questions ended and the open Q & A session began, it became clear that the audience wasn’t quite as interested in hearing from the students’ perspectives. It was understandable, of course, but it still felt… a little disappointing. Did they really not care at all about what our generation had to say? Even students that had clearly prepared and spent a week learning about various trilateral-related issues?
But all in all, the opportunity to speak alongside a panel of such remarkable experts was a true highlight of my trilateral conference.
That was my professional highlight. Personally, the people-to-people diplomacy that was encouraged really resonated with me. This conference brought together student leaders from three different countries, two of which are currently all-but-feuding. And they allowed us to live together, work together and bond in a way that would have been impossible otherwise. From the escape room activity early in the week to the visits to both the Embassy of Japan and of the Republic of Korea, we were able to be exposed to the perspectives of the other countries.
Our visit to the U.S. Department of State following a Walk Through History interactive activity at the U.S. Institute of Peace included the American point of view – and intricacies that lay behind the scenes of multilateral diplomacy. It was humanizing. Hearing from the Japanese students themselves tore away the layers of animosity that the media and history try so hard to maintain. Because at the end of the day, they were also in D.C. and preparing for a student-exchange-based conference in order to facilitate discussion, conversation, and relationship building.
Through our short week together, we were able to become friends and really talk and listen to each other about topics ranging from the sensitive issue of “comfort women” or sex slaves during World War II. We discussed challenges we have had so far in recruitment for our respective summer conferences and offered encouragement to each other. We ate together while commenting on a speaker’s remarks from earlier on in the day and then turn to discuss the tense politics of today. And in the setting of the open and friendly dialogue, the differences that seemed to loom over us before seemed to diminish. There is so much more than can bring us together than tear us apart – as an international community. And it was an honor to learn such a lesson in the company of such fine student leaders. I hope to meet them again, as we each pursue our professional paths.
