일본의 혐한현상에 대한 고찰

Abstract

A study on "Anti-Korea" Stiuation in Japan - Focused on the behavior in Internet -

Kenichiro Kawamuro

Division of International & Area Studies, The Graduate School, Pukyong National University

Abstract Nowadays, Hanryu(Korean Wave) captures Japanese attention. Many Japanese like Korean TV dramas, movies and pop music. They contribute to giving Japanese a position impression of Korea. The public opinion poll survey, which Japanese Cabinet Office conducted, demonstrates that more than sixty percent of Japanese like Korea and Koreans. By contrast, the result of questionnaire surveys which several websites carried out suggests that some Japanese internet users have been growing antipathy toward Korea/Koreans. For example, those who were brought together via messages on Twitter and other websites held a mass Hyem Han (antipathy toward Korea/Koreans) demonstration in August 2011, which protested against broadcasts of Korean TV dramas in Japan.

Both Korean and Japanese scholars analyze that their dissatisfaction with Japan’s economic stagnation makes some Japanese supporters of the right-wing, who lead anti-Korean Wave movements. Their biased view of Koreans is, thus, an outlet for their discontent with Japanese society. However, such analysis does not help to establish a constructive relationship between Korean and Japan, and also overlook anti-Korean Wave movements which have developed in websites among their users.

This dissertation analyses how Japanese netizens express their feeling of Hyem Han and why they hold such antipathy toward Korea and Koreans. Internet discussion about Koreans appeared in Nichanneru (2channel), which is one of the representative HyemHan websites, is examined. The topics discussed there are: ① unfavourable characteristics and behavior of Koreans; ② antipathy toward Korea/Koreans as a counter expression to their anti-Japanese feelings; ③ political factors nurtured Hyem Han; ④ Hyem Han caused by sports, cultural, and economic frictions between Korea and Japan; ⑤ Hyem Han created by Japanese domestic factors; ⑥ Hyem Han nurtured in internet discussion; ⑦ Hyem Han created by other factors.

Among these topics, the issues related to the topic ⑤ are most frequently discussed. These are the matters associated with Koreans living in Japan and crime committed by foreigners. This means that antipathy toward Korea/Koreans has mostly stemmed from Japanese domestic problems. The topics of ①,③, and ④ are also well discussed in Nichanneru. This suggests that there are various reasons that Japanese netizens have developed antipathy toward Korea/Koreans. Generally speaking, the issues related to territorial sovereignty over Dok-do (Takeshima) and worship at Yasukuni Shrine may cause frictions between the two countries. However, the data presented in this dissertation suggests that this is not the only cause that Japanese netizens have developed anti-Korean feelings. In order to develop good relationship between Korea and Japan, the both sides have to take measures for preventing Japanese from developing antagonistic attitudes toward Korea/Koreans.