Citizen diplomacy brings Korea, Japan closer
When you are abroad, you will more often than not find yourself becoming a patriot. Older Koreans say people tend to develop a greater sense of unity and solidarity with their community when they live in a foreign country. Their shared sense of identity often brings them closer together and helps them maintain a strong bond. It is common to see Koreans gather to share happiness, guided by the…
Citizen diplomacy played a significant role in bringing Korea and Japan closer together. When living abroad, many Koreans find themselves developing a stronger sense of unity and solidarity with their community. This shared identity often helps maintain a strong bond among them. It is common to see Koreans gather to share happiness, believing that shared joy doubles while shared sorrow is halved.
However, this sense of unity among people of the same ethnic background is relatively uncommon when it comes to celebrating the achievements of another culture. Such events are even rarer when hosted by someone from a different culture, particularly from a country with a long and contentious history with the host nation.
In a remarkable display of citizen diplomacy, Akemi Saitoh, the wife of Yasuhiko Saitoh, president of Japan's largest chemical company Shin-Etsu, hosted a party in Houston, Texas, on September 20, 2022. The gathering was attended by approximately 70 guests, most of whom were of Korean descent. The event celebrated Korean ballerina Ji-yeon Lee's birthday. This unique occasion exemplified how citizen diplomacy can bridge divides and foster closer relationships between nations, despite their complex histories.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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- Citizen diplomacy brings Korea, Japan closer koreatimes.co.kr
