Historical Gulfs, Strategic Bridges: A Pragmatic-Symbolic Analysis of the GSOMIA Between Japan and South Korea

In 2016, Japan and South Korea signed the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA)-the first military agreement between the two countries. The agreement called for the sharing of military intelligence concerning North Korea and its missile and nuclear programs. Despite numerous similarities between Japan and South Korea and their shared concerns, the process of signing the GSOMIA was strewn with controversies and setbacks that continue to haunt it long after the signing. This paper aims to understand the interplay between the pragmatic considerations and the symbolic meanings that affected the dynamics surrounding the GSOMIA. The analysis relies on a theoretical framework we offer by linking constructivism with collective memory theory. This approach, we argue, best explains why historical disputes have become extremely influential in Japan-South Korea relations, particularly during the GSOMIA process. It is also argued that, in such a context, the main advantage of the GSOMIA is its limited scope. The agreement is potentially a trust-building mechanism. By partially setting historical differences aside, both countries can build a stronger foundation for regional stability. This, in turn, can serve as a trust-building exercise within a larger process that could help them find an acceptable solution to their difficult shared past.