World · East Asia & Pacific · 1 hr ago
Waseda Professor Says Japan-Era Assets Should Be Returned to Japan
Waseda University emeritus professor Tetsuo Arima called for Japan-era assets to be returned to Japan.
He argued that after World War II, the US gave assets owned by Japan and Japanese people to Koreans without payment, violating international law.
Arima said South Korea should return the assets because it is now wealthier than Japan.
South Korean professor Seo Kyung-duk criticized the claim, saying the assets were transferred through the US military government to the South Korean government, not handed to individual Koreans.
The two professors disagree over how the assets changed hands after the war.
Their dispute touches on the history of Japanese rule over Korea and the handling of Japanese-owned property after the war.
The argument has renewed debate over historical claims between South Korea and Japan.
The accounts give no indication of any official action or next step.
Waseda University professor emeritus Tetsuo Arima argued that Japan-era assets should be returned to Japan and Japanese people because South Korea is now wealthier than Japan.
Arima said the assets had been given to Koreans by the US military after the war, violating international law protecting property ownership.
South Korean professor Seo Kyung-duk said the claim was unfounded and that the assets were transferred to the South Korean government through the US military government.
Seo criticized Arima’s remarks as historical distortion and an international embarrassment.
- Who
- Waseda University professor emeritus Tetsuo Arima called for the return of Japan-era assets. South Korean professor Seo Kyung-duk criticized his claim.
- What
- Arima argued that assets owned by Japan and Japanese people during Japan’s colonial rule of Korea should be returned.
- When
- Arima posted his remarks on X on October 13. Seo responded on October 19.
- Where
- Arima posted on X. Seo commented on social media in South Korea.
- Why
- Arima said South Korea is now wealthier than Japan and argued the postwar transfer of the assets violated international law.
Tetsuo Arima
Seo Kyung-duk
Ownership and return
Tetsuo Arima
Arima said Japan-era assets were given to Koreans by the US military after the war in violation of international law, and should be returned to Japan and Japanese people.
Seo Kyung-duk
Seo said the assets were not distributed to individual Koreans by the US military, but were transferred to the South Korean government through the US military government.
Historical interpretation
Tetsuo Arima
Arima argued that wartime property ownership should not have been infringed.
Seo Kyung-duk
Seo called Arima’s claim unfounded and said he was distorting history.
Arima posted on X arguing that Japan-era assets should be returned.
Seo criticized Arima’s post on social media.
- Arima
- Waseda University professor emeritus
- Seo
- Professor at Sungshin Women’s University
- Post date
- October 13
- Response date
- October 19
- Assets at issue
- Property owned by Japan and Japanese people during Japan’s colonial rule of Korea
1 source
What people are saying
This is an act that invites international embarrassment.
It is nothing more than an unreasonable claim.
Do not just envy that South Korea has become wealthier than Japan; first reflect on the history of why this had to happen.