OSAKA — When the excitement over the World Cup finals subsides, many may wonder whether cohosting the event actually helped improve relations between Japan and South Korea.
"The answer is a qualified 'yes.' It is clear that, on a personal, private level, many ordinary Japanese have a stronger interest in all things Korean than ever before," said Chung Kwi Hwan, assistant director of the international division of the Osaka prefectural chapter of the Korean Residents Union in Japan (Mindan), representing about 400,000 South Koreans.
"However, when you get to the political level, or start talking about things like interpretations of history, things are not likely to change all that much," Chung said.