Waseda University professor demands return of colonial assets to Japan

Tetsuo Arima, a professor emeritus at Waseda University, has sparked controversy by claiming that because South Korea has become wealthier than Japan, the assets owned by Japanese individuals and the Japanese state during the colonial era should be returned to Japan.

Arima argued on social media that assets held by Japanese citizens were distributed to Koreans without compensation by the U.S. military after World War II, which he characterized as a violation of property rights and international law. He suggested a new agreement should be formed to return these vested properties.

Professor Kyungdeok Seo of Sungshin Women's University criticized the claims as being disconnected from historical facts, noting that assets were managed by the U.S. military government and subsequently transferred to the South Korean government, rather than being distributed freely to individuals. Seo described the remarks as an attempt to bring international embarrassment to Japan.

Separately, public perception surveys indicate a shifting dynamic between the two nations. While South Koreans express higher confidence in areas such as popular culture, military strength, and future development potential, a majority still view Japan as the more advanced nation overall.