China and Japan are neighboring countries to our Republic of Korea. When considering their economic and cultural contributions as well as their impact on our nation, it's a thought-provoking question as to which one has had a more significant impact and has been a more formidable adversary. In conclusion, while Japan colonized us for 36 years, China ruled over our country as a vassal state for 503 years. Therefore, objectively speaking, it seems that China exerted a much harsher influence on our people for a significantly longer period of time.

Xi Jinping's statement to President Trump that "The Korean Peninsula was a part of China" infuriated us, but they had ruled over us for over 500 years, and Joseon had to relinquish its armed resistance and place itself under China's authority to gain approval from the emperor to become kings. The people's wealth drained away due to the tributes that had to be offered every year, and while Japan left behind many things such as railways, roads, and administrative systems, China only took things away. The issue of the so-called 'comfort women', numbering even more than Japan's, around 500,000, was a tremendous social problem stemming from the immense suffering caused by the Qing invasion of Joseon.

I have memories of the 1960s when I attended university, crossing the campus' back hill or passing through Geumhwa Tunnel to visit Independence Gate several times. Even back then, and until recently, I had the misconception that Independence Gate was erected to commemorate independence from Japan. However, the Independence Gate and Independence Hall in Seoul's Seodaemun district were not built to commemorate independence from Japan's 36-year rule, but rather to commemorate the liberation from China's dominance for over 500 years. They were established in 1897, with Dr. Seo Jae-pil playing a central role.

In 1407, King Taejong constructed the Mohwagwan building to receive Chinese envoys and erected the Hongsal Gate at Seodaemun. Later, this gate was renamed Yeongeun Gate (迎恩門) to signify 'receiving China's favor'. However, it was torn down to build Independence Gate, symbolizing liberation from China's dominance. The incident that turned into a comedic misunderstanding regarding "Misconceptions about Independence Gate" seems to have occurred during the March 1st, 2018 commemoration event. After the March 1st event, President Moon Jae-in, in front of Seodaemun Independence Gate, shouted "hurrah" This incident starkly revealed the flawed historical perception of the left-wing government.

It seems that we are forgetting the historical fact that Japan, the victor of the First Sino-Japanese War, granted us independence from China, and the United States, victorious in World War II, liberated us from Japan. Our liberation from Japan did not solely occur on August 15th, marking the end of World War II, but another comedic thought could be that the Treaty of April 17, 1895, in which China, defeated in the First Sino-Japanese War, acknowledged in the treaty that 'Qing acknowledges Korea is an entirely independent state' could also serve as another 'Liberation Day' from China's 500-year dominance.

The dinner meeting between Lee Jae-myung, the representative of the Democratic Party of Korea, and Ambassador Xing Haiming at the Chinese Embassy in Seoul on June 8th was undoubtedly a rather tense event. Ambassador Xing positioned Lee as he sat down and proceeded to make a threatening statement, saying, "Some in the corner are betting on the United States to win and China to lose. The Korean government, which is siding with the United States, is undoubtedly mistaken and will regret it later."

The ambassador, who is just at the level of a consul general, continued with a prepared speech in an impolite manner for about 15 minutes. The photo of Lee Jae-myung, who had run as the ruling party's candidate in the recent presidential election and is now the leader of the overwhelming majority first party with a courteous demeanor, listening without any retort, is truly regrettable.

The meeting between Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the opposition in South Korea, a country among the world's top 7 nations with a population over 50 million and a GDP per capita over $30,000, and the Chinese Ambassador, where Lee indicated he would tolerate rebuke and threats from high-level officials and risk damaging our national dignity if it helps attack the government, presented an extremely unpleasant scene.

The left-wing faction that has taken control of the opposition could be classified as a modern-day version of the 'Wi Jeong-chuksa', a derogatory term used in Korean history to refer to the educated aristocracy who collaborated with foreign powers. They seem to wholeheartedly preserve the 'pro-China collaborator DNA', so to speak. Their ideology-centric conceptualism that denies science, moral arrogance that claims moral superiority, dualism that categorizes things into good and evil, factionalism that treats differing opinions as hostility, and closed-mindedness to the global world are reminiscent of the ideological realm of "Confucianism and Principles" that dominated the Lee Dynasty. This mindset appears to persist within today's left-wing forces.

During his visit to Beijing, President Moon Jae-in managed to uplift China to a 'high mountain peak' even as he suffered the humiliation of an 'alone meal' and did not hesitate to belittle South Korea as a 'small nation'. This stands as a notable example. It's interesting to note that many vocal left-wing activists have never been heard criticizing China even once. They remain silent when China threatens Taiwan, suppresses the Hong Kong democracy movement, abuses the rights of ethnic minorities, and even when Xi Jinping stated that "Korea is a vassal state of China." Conversely, even a slight mention of Japan can lead to strong condemnation and vehement protests, perhaps reflecting a perspective that regards Japan as a 'borderland rogue'.

Every individual refers to their inborn life conditions as fate or destiny, often discussing concepts like 'saju' . Similarly, nations also possess a kind of 'saju' akin to fate or destiny. Among them, South Korea is likely one of the most fiercely tested nations. Throughout its long history, it has been incessantly challenged by continental powers like China and has suffered immeasurable damage from maritime powers like Japan. It has faced numerous major conflicts, including the massive war like the June 25th invasion orchestrated by China and Kim Il-sung, alongside countless minor skirmishes, amounting to over a thousand instances in total. This stark reality of our history might lead our citizens to wish that the entire country could relocate somewhere else. China, directly connected by land, was an inevitable destiny for millennia, while Korea, as a survival strategy, practically had no choice but to relinquish resistance and fall under China's influence. The resulting suffering and tribulations were as agonizing as warfare; endless demands for tribute like "offer maidens," "offer gold and silver," "offer hunting horses and falcons," and more made life unbearable. The country, lacking resources, reached the brink of complete destitution, and people's lives were oppressed beyond measure.

We vividly remember the history of Korea's humiliation, especially the 14 years prior to the Qing Dynasty's defeat in the First Sino-Japanese War. An example that stands out is Yuán Shìkǎi, a young Chinese 20s, who virtually governed Joseon (Korea) as the Qing Dynasty's governor-general. He controlled the Joseon king, exercised authority over the officials, and committed all sorts of atrocities while subjecting the nation to his tyranny.

Not long ago, President Yoon Seok-youl mentioned in a joint speech to the U.S. Congress about the deep gratitude owed to the American missionaries who came to Korea and even laid their bones here – individuals like Underwood, Appenzeller, Scranton, and others. The most exceptional individuals from the world's most prosperous nation came to the world's most challenging, dirtiest, and most hopeless nation, sacrificing everything for themselves and their families. The schools and hospitals they established form the backbone of our country.

While we've had a relationship with China for over 2,000 years, not a single Chinese individual like those American missionaries provided such assistance. Only their oppression and actions remain in our memory. The United States, with whom we've had a relationship for just over a century, has extended unimaginable help to this far-flung country. They fought alongside us, provided sustenance, gave money, and educated us, making us a part of the U.S. global strategy. There's a fundamental difference between this relationship and that with China. Meeting the United States after leaving China was an acknowledgment of "our historical choice and fortune." While Chinese Ambassador Xing Haiming threatened that "Korea will regret it if it doesn't bet on China," we won't bet on the Chinese Communist Party; instead, we will bet on "American freedom and democracy" to foster a normal and equal friendship.

Having China as our neighboring country and a massive market makes 'strategic friendship with China' a necessity. However, arguments that advocate standing with China, which pursues authoritarianism and authority rather than universal values of freedom and democracy, or the outdated mentality of left-wing individuals who are willing to participate in the expansionist 'Chinese Dream', can only be perceived as foolishness that goes against the times.

Another neighboring country, Japan, witnesses more than 8 million visitors annually, with a very high favorable impression of 75%. With similar dietary preferences including rice, fish, and soybean soup, we can comfortably coexist as 'neighbors and cousins' at any time. The indirect societal capital they established over 36 years, such as railways, roads, harbors, and electricity, forms the foundation of our economic development. The 'attached properties' and 'unconditional grants based on the ROK-Japan Claims Agreement' left behind during their forced departure have contributed to our modern-day economy. Turning our gaze away from the history of weakness and submission during the period of Korea-Japan annexation and post-liberation, Japan can become a good neighbor and friend. As a country rooted in freedom and democracy, mutual cooperation and coexistence in terms of security and market economy can expand to a new level of collaboration.

Among the world's major countries, the United States enjoys the highest favorability, not only politically and economically but also culturally through Hollywood movies, American sports, and more. The public sentiment is leaning towards being pro-American. In a comparison of preferences between the United States and China, the favorability ratio is around 60:10, indicating a much more favorable view towards the United States. The Korean War, where over 50,000 American lives were lost and more than 100,000 were injured, would not have allowed South Korea to survive and achieve economic growth without the assistance of the United States.

In contrast, the involvement of the Chinese People's Liberation Army in the war exacerbated the division between North and South Korea. As we approach the 70th anniversary of the signing of the Mutual Defense Treaty in 1953, the strong alliance between South Korea and the United States is celebrated. The United States has made significant contributions to South Korea's security and economy, and is perceived as the thankful nation that protected South Korea from communism. Amidst North Korea's nuclear missile threats and the heightened confrontation between the United States and China, the value of the South Korea-U.S. alliance is being reevaluated, and the significance of the distant country, the United States, is growing even more.