한일 경제협력의 60년간 변화 과정 및 향후 방향

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Purpose: This study aims to explore the 60-year evolution of Korea-Japan economic cooperation and to propose directions for future collaboration on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Research design, data, and methodology: This study divides the 60 years of Korea-Japan economic cooperation into four stages based on the nature of their interactions. The stages are as follows: the first stage(1965-1969), marking the initial phase of diplomatic normalization; the second stage(1970s-1980s), characterized by Korea's high economic growth; the third stage(1990s-2000s), reflecting the diversification of global supply chains; and the fourth stage(2010s-2025), focused on the reorganization of global supply chains. The characteristics of each stage were analyzed using data on Korea-Japan trade and Japanese foreign investment into Korea.
Results: The characteristics of each stage are as follows. The first stage was from 1965 to 1969, during which various discussions took place regarding the direction of economic cooperation between Korea and Japan after the normalization of diplomatic relations. A key issue in normalizing diplomatic relations was the negotiation of Korea's property claims against Japan. The claim fund was used for projects such as the construction of the POSCO plant, and commercial loans contributed to increasing Japanese exports to Korea. The second stage, spanning the 1970s and 1980s, was marked by Korea's high economic growth and low unemployment rates. During this period, Korea actively introduced capital and technology from Japan. The claim fund, provided between 1966 and 1975, was utilized in sectors such as mining, manufacturing, and social overhead capital. This led to the establishment of a vertical cooperative relationship between Korea and Japan. Moreover, Japanese companies significantly expanded their direct investments in Korea during the 1970s and increased investments again after Plaza Accord in 1985. The third stage, from the 1990s to the 2000s, saw China emerge as Korea's major trading partner, altering the structure of economic cooperation in East Asia. Following the normalization of diplomatic relations between Korea and China in 1992, cooperation shifted from being primarily between Korea and Japan to involving Korea, Japan, and China. A division of labor emerged: Japan specialized in producing parts and materials, Korea in manufacturing intermediate goods, and China in assembling final products. However, Korea's heavy dependence on Japanese parts and materials persisted, remaining a key factor in Korea's trade deficit with Japan. The fourth stage, from the 2010s to the present, is characterized by the reorganization of global supply chains, including the integration of Southeast Asia into the network dominated by Korea, China, and Japan. The degree of economic cooperation between Korea and Japan has fluctuated depending on political conflicts and periods of recovery. Between 1990 and 2023, Japan's share of Korea's exports, imports, and foreign investment declined significantly. While Korea's dependence on China has recently shown signs of decreasing, direct economic cooperation with Japan has weakened as China remains a dominant trade partner for Korea, and trade with Southeast Asian countries has grown in importance.
Implications: This study highlighted the need for economic cooperation between Korea and Japan, even as Japan's role in the Korean economy has declined. It emphasized that such cooperation should be complementary and strategic, rather than one-sided, and should address shared challenges. Based on this premise, the study proposed the following six directions for future cooperation: securing natural resources such as LNG and critical minerals; advancing energy cooperation in areas such as CCUS, hydrogen, and ammonia; fostering collaboration in information technology, including artificial intelligence;

목차 (Table of Contents)

• 1. 서론
• 2. 기존연구 및 연구방법
• 3. 각 단계별 한일 경제협력의 주요 내용
• 4. 한일 경제협력의 필요성 및 향후 방향
• 5. 결론
• References