One of the hallmarks of the ‘Boycott Japan’ movement is that many university students voluntarily participate in it. For university students, Japan is a country that is much more intertwined with them than we can expect. They use a lot of writing instruments made in Japan, travel to Japan with friends, and like Japanese celebrities. It is much more meaningful that the students are participating in this campaign and refraining from traveling to Japan.
So, what is causing university students to boycott? The reason why university students are actively boycotting is not only because of Japan’s export regulations, but also Japan’s attitude that they regard our boycott campaign as insignificant and they think Korea is wrong. Also, as a university student, a boycott is an effective way to clearly show our opinions to Japan.
But not all university students support the boycotts. Some students say that the boycott does not hurt the Japanese economy seriously and worsens the relationship with Japan and causes more damage to us. Another university student is concerned that the boycotts are supposed to be voluntary but that people are increasingly being forced to participate. In conclusion, it is good to boycott Japan, but it should be remembered that the purpose at the boycotting is not to deteriorate relations with Japan or damage the Japanese economy, but to express our protest against the Japanese government’s arrogance. Hence we don’t need to force others to participate in the campaign.
Nowadays, there are many articles recommending Southeast Asian countries such as Vietnam, the Philippines, Laos, and Russia as tourist destinations to replace Japan. These countries are not far from Korea and the travel expenses are not expensive either. So it would be better to travel to countries other than to Japan according to these articles. And even when you go on a trip to Japan, you should refrain from visiting controversial places, such as Yasukuni Shrine. Also, if you encounter a protestor or a Japanese person who hates Korea while you are traveling, be careful not to react emotionally and logically refute or intervene at all. Also, it should be noted whether a company is helping Japan’s history distortion even when you are using Japanese goods in Korea. Among Japanese companies, we should not buy goods that help the distortion of history, and I recommend that you buy products made in Korea if it is the same product.
