Tsushima Island in Japan Becomes a Ghost Town

After Japan's export restrictions toward Korea, 90% of Koreans who visit Tsushima Island have decreased, and not even one person has visited since April due to the banned because of Covid 19.

About 80% of tourists in Tsushima were Koreans, and Tsushima is paying a high price for the economic retaliation of the Abe government.

The economic effect of Korean tourists in Tsushima in 2018 was about 1 billion dollars. When this disappears overnight, the people's resentment is towards the government.

[Shizuko/Tsushima residents: "When I watch TV, I think Prime Minister Abe has done something stupid. Everyone says like that. Sometimes he says ridiculous things as well."]

Korea ranks second among foreign tourists visiting Japan. Statistics show that in the past year, 2.2 million Koreans visited Japan. This is less than 70% compare to previous year.

The situation is same for Japanese companies. Among the three semiconductors that are regulated are those that export hydrogen fluoride. A company that had a net profit growth of over 80% had fallen to negative after regulation.

This situation is expected to continue unless the Abe government shows changes in attitudes toward export restrictions, especially for forced recruitment.