South Korea to restore Japan ties 'as soon as possible,' next envoy says

TOKYO -- South Korea's new government led by President Yoon Suk-yeol is keen to restore Japan-Korea ties "as soon as possible," Yun Duk-min, chair-professor at Hankook University of Foreign Studies, said at Nikkei's Future of Asia conference on Thursday.

Yun, who is expected to be officially appointed as South Korea's next ambassador to Japan, said the relationship between the two countries is currently at its "worst" and criticized previous President Moon Jae-in for failing to resolve disputes over issues such as wartime labor at a Japanese steelmaker during World War II.