Press Coverage for the March 1 and August 15 Anniversaries

“Nation” and “State” on the Restoration of Diplomatic Tiesbetween Japan and South Korea

Abstract

South Korea’s memory of its colonial past still forms an important part of

the agenda in Japan-South Korea relations. The press coverage for South Korea’s

Independence Movement Day on March 1 and Liberation Day on August 15

has played an extremely important role in spreading such sentiments among

the Korean public. However, past studies have not examined the features of the

press coverage for these anniversaries, changes to these features, or the impact

that Japan-South Korea relations have had on these anniversary press. This

paper clarifies the features of the press coverage for these anniversaries based

on an analysis of the editorials and special articles published in the Chosun Ilbo

and Donga Ilbo newspapers after the end of the Korean War. It also examines

how these features have appeared and changed in light of the restoration of

diplomatic ties between Japan and South Korea. The research results revealed

the following findings. In the 1950s, the press coverage for the March 1 anniversary

was perceived as “anniversary based on nationhood” and it mainly focused

on the memory of colonial rule. In contrast, the press coverage for the August

15 anniversary was perceived as an “anniversary based on statehood” and it

mainly focused on the development of the state （i.e., the Republic of Korea）.

Later, when the restoration of diplomatic ties between Japan and South Korea

was about to be realized in the 1960s, these differences evolved into two different

types of behavior: ⑴ an emphasis on the significance of the memory of the country’s colonial past and ⑵ an emphasis on contemporary problems associated

with statehood, such as economic growth or poverty. However, after the

restoration of diplomatic ties was concluded in 1965, the memory of colonial

rule also became a significant part of the agenda for the August 15 anniversary

in the sense of avoiding the possibility of this restoration leading to a re-subordination

to Japan. In conclusion, the country’s memory of its colonial past was

set as an essential part of the agenda for relations with Japan in press coverage

for the March 1 and August 15 anniversaries by the restoration of diplomatic

ties between Japan and South Korea.