6/5 Talk about recent relations between Korea and Japan.

Relations between Korea and Japan are not good currently.

ex> Relations between Korea and Japan have been through ups and downs.

Japan is making groundless claims that it owns the Dokdo islets.

* make groundless claims: 근거 없는 주장을 하다

ex> You’d better stop making groundless claims.

It has even changed its history textbooks to support that claim. Japan also wants to call the ocean between the two nations the Sea of Japan. Korea insists that it should be called the East Sea.

Japan forcibly occupied Korea from 1910 to 1945.

* forcibly occupy: 강제 점령하다

ex> Students forcibly occupied the main building.

It committed horrific wartime atrocities. Japan is currently denying its wrongdoings during the occupation.

* wrongdoing: 과오, 잘못

ex> He tried to cover up his wrongdoings.

* atrocity: a very cruel, shocking action

ex> The killing was cold-blooded, and those who committed this atrocity should be tried and punished.

It is refusing to compensate for the victims. The current Japanese government is also moving to revise the pacifist constitution.

* revise the pacifist constitution: 평화 헌법을 수정하다

ex> There will be much backlash over revising the pacifist constitution.

Japanese political leaders also visit the Yasukuni Shrine, which pays tribute to war criminals. These moves are straining relations with Korea and other neighboring countries.

@ I don’t get it.  도무지 이해가 안 가.

<HOMEWORK>

1. The incident had a negative impact on relations between Korean and Japan.

2. She kept on making groundless claims.

3. Korea was once forcibly occupied by Japan.

4. He has not made an apology for his wrongdoings.

@ Related Topics>> Sports Rivalry between Korean and Japan (2011.3.26)