Nearly eight decades after Korea's liberation from Japanese colonial rule, both nations are actively working to create a mutually amicable framework for reconciliation. The ideal approach involves fostering reconciliation over shared historical experiences and cultivating a forward-looking vision for future collaboration. Despite pending issues and occasional strained postwar relations, observers are closely monitoring the diplomatic steps taken by Seoul and Tokyo.

One inspiring story amidst this historical backdrop is that of Chizuko Tauchi, later embraced by the Korean name Yoon Hak-ja (1912-1968), known as the "Japanese mother of Korean orphans."

Born in Wakamatsu City, Kochi Prefecture, Japan, Tauchi and her mother relocated to Korea in 1918 to join her father, a colonial government official in Mokpo, a port city in South Jeolla Province. She received her education there, benefiting from the privileged colonial education reserved for Japanese citizens.

Tauchi’s awareness of the harsh colonial realities was sparked during........

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