From the Joint Statement by Korean and Japanese Intellectuals to the End of the San Francisco System Evaluation Conferences: Toward a Durban Conference of East-Asian Intellectuals

This paper reflects on the evolution and significance of the San Francisco System through a series of international conferences held since 2016, involving Korean, Japanese, and global intellectuals. It traces the efforts to challenge the postwar order established by the 1965 Korea-Japan Basic Treaty and the San Francisco Treaty, highlighting the impact of joint statements and legal decisions declaring Japan’s colonial rule over Korea as illegal. The paper draws parallels to the Durban Declaration, advocating for an East Asian movement against colonial legacies and for reparatory justice. It analyzes how the San Francisco System, originally intended as postwar atonement, shifted toward anti-communist alliances, exacerbating regional divisions and hindering East Asian community building. The study underscores the role of academic and legal activism in reshaping historical narratives and influencing diplomatic relations. It also examines the recent diplomatic tensions between Korea and Japan, particularly around compensation for forced labor, and critiques the Korean government’s adoption of a third-party reimbursement model. The paper concludes by emphasizing the need for genuine reconciliation and historical atonement, drawing inspiration from global justice movements. Ultimately, it calls for a new East Asian “Durban Declaration” to overcome the limitations of the San Francisco System and foster lasting peace and justice in the region.