Seoul: More than 7 out of 10 South Koreans view the remnants of Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula as still remaining even though Korea was liberated 80 years ago, a survey showed Wednesday.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the survey was conducted on 1,000 citizens and 850 descendants of independence patriots, and it revealed that 70.9 percent of the general public said the remnants of Japan's colonialism have not been removed yet. This poll was commissioned by the Heritage of Korean Independence, an organization representing independence activists and their descendants.
When focusing solely on the descendants of independence patriots, seventy-eight percent perceived the colonial vestiges as still present, based on the poll conducted from August 1-7 to mark the 80th anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japan's colonial rule.
Efforts to resolve the remnants of Japan's colonial rule include listing pro-Japanese collaborators or confiscating assets acquired by them or owned by their descendants. The survey highlighted that 71.8 percent of ordinary people and 83.1 percent of descendants of independence patriots believe the country should remove the vestiges of the colonial past, albeit belatedly.
When respondents were asked what is most needed to improve South Korea's relations with Japan, 30.5 percent cited Japan's sincere apology for its wartime history, while 17.1 percent suggested joint research and education efforts to prevent history distortion.