김대중의 일본에 대한 인식과 전략: 주요 저작과 어록을 통해 본 인식의 진화와 정치적 선택

Abstract

This study analyzes the transformation in Kim Dae-jung’s perception of Japan and political strategies from his representative publications and analects. Kim’s policy idea of Japan can be summarized as ‘peace and democracy’ and his political choices seem to repeat the tension and parallel of nationalism and realism between the political principle and economic interest. Kim was mainly interested in how to promote peace in Korean peninsula facing realities of international constraints and what should be Japan’s position and role in terms of how to realize democracy under the domestic political and economic circumstances. Kim’s idea on Japan was influenced and evolved by the historical momentum, such as Korea-Japan normalization and the end of cold-war period, and by the personal experience, such as abduction and death sentence by dictatorial government. Kim Dae-jung provided his political ideas on Japan's historical insensitivity about its wartime outrages, process and characteristics of Korea-Japan normalization, the distinctiveness of democracy in Japan and U.S., Japan’s response to Kim Dae-jung abduction issues, and its role for the peace in Asia and relationship with U.S. with his efforts for its implementation. In addition, he built the international coalition network in Japan and U.S. for the democratization movement against the authoritarian regime of Korea and tried to realize his political ideas. Kim’s perception of Japan and his strategic choice shows continuity up to the open door policy for the Japanese culture under his regime.