How to Build an Undersea Tunnel from Japan to Korea 

⭐ Get Nebula now: go.nebula.tv/kentobento (includes my Nebula Exclusive shows) 🩸 Watch The Shocking Chinese Pork Bun Murders exclusively on Nebula: nebula.tv/kento-bento-pork-bun-murders 👆🏼 For those who are commenting on the supposed mislabeling of the 'Sea of Japan' in the video, understand the map is obtained off Google Maps. Additionally, the 'Sea of Japan' is the dominant term used in English-speaking countries (as well as in Europe, China & Russia); while 'East Sea' is used primarily in South Korea (and 'Korean East Sea' used in North Korea). With that said, the video makes no claims on what the 'correct' term is.

Of course its possible to build a tunnel from Japan to Korea. I've built much larger tunnels in Minecraft before.

Well, UK and France had fought two World Wars as allies, that helps fixing up relationship a lot.

I want to build a tunnel connecting Earth and Mars.

*grabs popcorn* This comment section sure is fun to read

"Chunnel promotes integration with Europe." *Looks for Brexit comments.*

I hope this does get built in the future, I live in the UK and we built the Channel tunnel and while it was expensive, it paid off and has benefited Britain, France and Europe.

The way you said "The cost of... J.K.U.T." XD

The North Korean “Navy” would sever it lol

Train to busan. Korean and Japan = Tunnel to busan

Keep in mind, the French and Brits took nearly a hundred years before they cooperated on the Chunnel (which i was too jet lagged to enjoy recently). And even then it took the cooperation of two world wars to ease their issues. WWII was still only about 60/70 years ago, and while we have had the Korean War, that isn't about to help this issue.

Here in Finland we have been fighting with a similar question: tunnel between Helsinki and Tallinn

But there are many problems as much as the optimistic views which you've shown us, but the suspicion between the two nations isn't the major reason why the project is not executed. It is just one of the minor problems. To begin with, the tunnel passes through a fault line, which brings the tunnel into a safety problem. In this long tunnel, There would be no way to create a safe evacuation route for people in the middle of the sea in case of an emergency situation such as fire or traffic accident. So if there is any kind of accident, most probably an earthquake as the region is prone to Earthquakes, it will be a terrible accident with thousands of lives in trespassing the tunnel being lost. Also, the economies of the two nations are not doing very good nowadays. The Japanese bubble economy has collapsed and the lost decade has just passed through in Japan, and their economy is hanging on a string, which, the national debt situation is worsening day by day. In Korea as well, the economic growth is slowing down, and internal problems are blowing up, and is taking the same path of Japan to its own lost decade, from population decrease to incoming collapsing of housing market. None of the two can manage such a project at this situation. If you ask me whether this project is helpful for improving both economies, I would disagree. For the high hopes for the project being a solution to the two economies' unemployment crisis, the crisis won't solve the unemployment crisis at all. As both of the economies are economies of a developed countries, the highly skilled and educated population is facing the unemployment crisis, not the construction workers and factory workers. The highly educated population does not desire to work in such construction projects, which basically will be an underutilization of their education and skills, but wants to work in a tertiary sector jobs which they would be employed to a big company or in government official. Some of you(the comments mention the SFT (submerged floating tunnel) method as the solution, but as of now, there isn't a single case of built submerged floating tunnel yet, and the method is still being researched over, as it has been theorized, but its concept hasn't proved its safety completely... yet. To see the SFT tunnel being built between South Korea and Japan, we should wait until the SFT tunnel is completely proven its safety and has been utilized in other tunnels, as it isn't a wise idea to dedicate such a project to a kind of tunnel never used before. To add on. the economic profit which is mentioned, is quite exaggerated. The train cargo travel in Japan (don't get me wrong, I have the least intention to insult anyone) sucks. Because if the technical problems of Japanese railway network (uses 1067mm narrow gauge), there are many tracks which can't even transport international standard cargo containers, and since many of Japan's major cities are on the shoreside and have a good ports, railway cargo is often ignored. For passenger transport as well, using a plane(cheap airlines) is much more cheaper, and faster than using a train or using a car. There is practically no profit from transportation through the tunnel, but it will be much more economic choice to open another port facility for efficient cargo transport, or expansion of airports to provide faster and cheaper passenger transport. Besides, the protest against the mayor of Busan after his sign of approval to this project was not really because of hatred towards the Japanese, but because the people want the government to just focus on the internal policies and the welfare of the people than such megaprojects. If you see, for the last few years, there has been numerous cases of regional bodies (city, province, etc) wasting the tax monies on those megaprojects and bringing no real profit for the people, such as the 4 river reorganization project, gyeongin ara-canal, and regional airports. Despite the fact that I've listed all those cons to the tunnel, I do not disapprove this tunnel, but I actually would like to see this tunnel built in my lifetime, as the project may hold huge significance as a step forward from the deep hatred between the two nations. But I want to state that I've only listed the cons to provide a wider viewpoint beside the video which did not discuss deeply about the cons of such a huge project they proposed. +) To the people who argue that the video covers all the information stated in my comment, please read my comment and watch the video again. Did the video mention about the safety issues due to its length, or economic capability to build the tunnel, or lack of profit from the tunnel? If he did, please reply me with the exact time.

A major change happened between UK and France... ye... like fighting together in WWI and WWII?

Yeah similar but no it's not comparable. French and British fought about a millennia ago, also the last major conflict had them be allies against the axis. Japan on the other hand was the enemy, they never fully admitted their crime and have been sort of excused because daddy US needed an ally in Asia to fight Russia. Their tension is pretty recent (not even a century), it's unfair to compare them as if they were in the same scenario and thus insinuate these countries are just being bitches...

Yeah but the historical difference between the UK and France is way different then that of Japan and S Korea. Were the former were allies in 2 of the biggest and deadliest wars in human history while it was the exact opposite for the latter countries. You can't compare a more or less friendly rivalry to a former colonizer and colonized relationship.

You can’t really compare Britain&France and SK&Japan historical events. While it is true Britain and France fought a lot hundred years ago, they were rivals and easier for them to heal since ww1 and ww2. However Japan stripped South Koreans’ civil liberties and forced them to work in their factories and fight in their wars. Especially the old generations who remembered atrocities committed against Koreans, the opposition to tunnel would remain

Lol y would you want a bridge to Busan the zombies are gonna get there eventually...

Why did the Seikan tunnel cost so much less than the Channel tunnel when it had an overall greater length? 🤔

came back to see the drama and wow it's still ongoing haha ~ immaturity is the real problem here aside from the obvious bigotry. lucky a certain someone is not in the chatroom ( Mr. C ) else it would be a blockbuster drama.

Good video although with living in the UK for my whole leife, i've never ever heard someone call it a 'chunnel'

"amid a revolution in Colombia" um that revolution was essentially started and funded by the US because they wanted to build (and take control of) the Panama Canal, that's not exactly the best example of a crisis...

Watching this as a Brit with Brexit hanging over my head, I miss the spirit we had to build the Chunnel. Isolation gets us nowhere but stuck inside our own heads. I hope this tunnel happens one day, and the connectedness is something treasured.

Korea and japan Both hate this plan!!!! So don't fight 😀

The rail gauge is not a too big problem, Japan also has a standard gauge network namely the Shinkansen. So only freight will have to overcome the gauge gap.

No wonder my friend keep saying he uses car from France to England and I keep saying his is lying. I prove myself wrong.

Kento Bento: As visionary/optimistic as you may sound... I am not that excited about this tunnel and I doubt that the benefits of such tunnel are lopsidedly in favor of S. Korea. For S. Korea, there are other priorities. S. Korea is a de facto island because of N. Korea. Easing of tensions with N. Korea and eventual reunification will open up the pathway to mainland Asia and to Europe via China or Russia. This is the absolute priority. Why would Korea concede Japan the title of being the starting point of the great Asia-Europe railway/highway? Over the years Japan has increasingly grown inward-looking and uncompetitive. So, Japan needs even more to escape its insularity. By current estimates, S. Korea can beat Japan in absolute trade volume in 4~5 years. S. Korea has been far more outgoing and open to the world. Again, with the easing of tensions between two Koreas, here is a great deal opportunities that Korea can cash in without having to share with Japan. It is not just psychological or political. From the economic stand point alone, this project is not very likely to materialize any time soon.

The JKUT is a great idea and long overdue. If England and France can connect than Japan and Korea should do it also. But it does seem cost prohibitive and the size of tunnel would not allow enough high volume traffic for tourism plus freight plus high speed rail. I have taken a Jet Ferry (Beetle) from Busan to Hakata port several times and its actually a nice ride if the weather is good. I takes about 3.5 hours and costs about 120$ one way I think. From Hakata you can take the Shinkansen all the way to Tokyo and now to Hokaido. America needs infrastructure like this.

don't worry guys, this tunnel will never happen and it should stay so. All japanese people i talked to had no idea this project existed. It's a dead project that a military general came up with, but since japan doesn't have a military anymore, the project shouldn't exist either.

Japan's Shinkansen network has the same rail gauge as Korea's railway ,only the regular trains in Japan have narrow gauge !

I think a lot of the healing between France and England happened out of fears of war that were set into the people's psyche even before the world wars. They both understood they were strong powerful countries with abilities to greatly harm one another. While Japan and South Korea can say the same thing they also live in a modern world that allows for wounds to lay open. The UN, NATO, nuclear war. Not foolproof deterrents, but any major war between modern countries today will essentially be decided by whichever side the global organizations side with, so the two can keep hating each other knowing the threat of war isn't there. Something France and the UK didn't have.

5:05 just like France and UK. Driving on different side of the road didn't prevent from building the tunnel.

Connection to just japan. Connection to the whole world. Which one is better? Answer is already shown.

Mexico will pay for it. Just like our big, beautiful, gorgeous wall

if Japan really wants to make it, make a tunnel to Tsushima, Japan first.After that Korea can consider connect it to Busan. It is 65km from Tsushima Japan to Busan Korea. As a citizen of Busan, I agree to pay 1/2 of 65km. 3:25

Well I know that I am commenting after a long time it has been posted but I do wish to share some points. Firstly, I see he tried to be as fair, as someone not from these two countries, and does hope an optimistic future. I applaud that, just that there are some things that non-Koreans and non-Japanese might not know. The conflict between the nations in Europe was over when WW2 ended, and Germany apologised for it. Plus, Germany kept their words, they do not have ABC (Atomic, biological, chemical) weapons, limited their army, the chancellor (or PM back then) of Germany travelled to Poland, kneeled and apologised. In contrast, it is still continuing in East Asia. There is a border conflict between Korea and Japan, Japan did "apologise" however their actions speak otherwise. Japan declared in their constitution that they will not have an army that will be capable of attacking other countries however they voted to change it. They think that starting WW2 was a Glorious Past, not a mistake never to be repeated. Furthermore, they do not acknowledge the massacres and atrocities they have committed back them (e.g. Nanjing massacre, "comfort" women etc). In Europe, UK and France fought over a common enemy and that common enemy has totally changed. We can see how serious Germany was, looking from their punishment to Nazi members and the education system that followed. In Japan, in case you didn't know, practically the people who supported the Japanese military government continued, they have a shrine to commemorate the war criminals. If you ask Koreans whether they will side with Japan rather than China, the answer will probably a 'no'. Koreans do not trust both sides in the first place. It is not about moving on from the past. That past continues until this very day. That is the issue. P.S. Personally, I do feel that Japanese people are not the ones to blame, as they are kind, well mannered and know what is right and wrong. However, the politicians there are the ones to blame.

I do respect your opinion, but I will disagree on that it will be more beneficial to South Korea than Japan economically. In any economic agreement, the country with the bigger economy will always win. While not directly related with this topic, think about why all the big economic powers are eager to do economic agreements with financially weaker nations that exploit their own people, but hesitant to with countries that have comparable or better economic capacity with a lot of worker rights (even South Korea is guilty of this). Let's revisit this when South Korea's and Japan's GDPs are within 10% or less with each other. Currently, Japan's economy is more than 3 times bigger than Korea (maybe 4 times). If the current conditions holds while the tunnel is built, Pusan will only serve as a transition hub with negligibly little or no economic benefits while majority of Korea will just simply be skipped or ignored. If there's any solace for Korea, is that even though the economy is smaller than Japan it is big enough that it cannot be bullied into entering disadvantageous agreeements like the building of a tunnel. Let's be clear on the intent of the tunnel. It will provide easier trade access for Japan to do business with China, Southeast Asia, Middle East, and Europe. The only market that it will open up more for Korea, will be Japan. These are not equal parameters by any measure. If I was in the Korean government, I will try complete a railroad through North Korea and Russia completely circumventing China first before any tunnel talks. That would really change the economic world order. It will completely undermine One Belt, One Road. (That would probably make Russia the new hegemony though) Another way of Japan getting help for the tunnel from Korea, perhaps, is helping their reunification efforts (I know kidnapped Japanese citizens are still a issue, but can Japan set an example for South Korea to follow despite political issues?). Also, most people from Korean side that may agree with the tunnel are businessmen, economists, professors, and politicians that were bought from lobbying from Japan (google search or naver search thei background of Koreans who agree with the tunnel). In addition, people who want political alliance with Japan are the descendants of the same people who sold out their own nation for their financial/legal protection from the Japanese government during the Korean occupation. A significant majority of them reside with Korea's right wing parties such as Korea Liberation Party. In order to whitewash their wrongdoings they have agree with Japan's LDP's right wing narrrative. They could be good friends, probably. The blowback, while very unfortunate, it was inevitable because it triggered years of unresolved resentment. I wish you knew before posting. Anyways, Thank you for the conversation starter. It gives something for people to talk about near the watercooler.

Wouldn't it be easier to connect Japan with mainland Russia through Hokkaido and Sakhalin

At last, something the Japanese and the Koreans can agree on; the tunnel project is utterly unnecessary and absurd.

Japan seriously treated Korea so terribly during the war. From comfort women to abuse of Koreans in both Japan and Korea, as well as japans denial of such acts to this day, South Korea has a very good reason to not want to make this tunnel. These events didn't even happen that long ago as scars from Japan still linger in korea. I would even see it as an anti Korean act as well.

1:43 makes the statement that shipping goods is more expensive than land transport. That is simply not true, by far the cheapest way of transportation is shipping.

I'm just here waiting for Indonesia, Malaysia, n the Island of Borneo to do a similar thing.

The tunnel may become more likely especially in the face of potential reunification of the two Korea's. With the divide, it effectively makes South Korea an island nation. With a unified Korea, it would increase the practicality of the tunnel

Why can’t you just connect Hokkaido to Sakhalin then connect Sakhalin to Russian mainland

If Tokyo or Osaka were located further west, it’d be economically viable, but due to the great distance between Seoul and Osaka/Tokyo, this tunnel has a huge disadvantage against faster passenger air and cheaper and easily accessible sea cargo transportation. The tunnel’s maximum influence would only reach from Seoul to Kyushu and Chukoku, missing out greater urban areas of Osaka and Tokyo.

한국 정부 기관의 연구 결과 한중, 한일 해저 터널은 경제성 없다고 발표하고 앞으로 이런 떡밥이 안 돌기를 희망했습니다. 중국, 일본은 꽤나 바라는 모양이지만 한국 정부는 별로 내키지 않는 모양.

Because the distance is way too long, and also Japan have frequently earth quake, it would never work

You're comparing oranges and apples unless the British Isles had conquered and colonized France in early 20C. Quite too impressive :P

I don't think Japan and Korean like each other enough to want something like this connection them. Too close for comfort.

Solution: Build 4 tunnels, 2 for S. Korea, 2 for Japan Problem: Costs a lot of money

Hey now you can take the "train to busan" from japan

You never disappoint me! Great video!

Korea "you pay for the cost of construction and maintainance, we'll do it" Japan "uh.......nani?" Korea "nvm, I got no time for this"

England and France rivals ? Eh. We are each other's true nemesis, you mean.

This tunnel is a significant blood vein for both countries that flow to all over Asia. It is a win-win situation physically and soulfully. Hopefully, see this one starts building in my before next decade.

I disagree that there was a mental barrier to overcome with the channel tunnel. At the time, France and the UK had a fantastic relationship with virtually no bad blood, because they had fought two wars together as allies. Any wars between the two in the past were not in living history. The 20th century saw a very strong bond built between the UK and France, strengthened by the formation of the EU (Now in jeapordy). Japan and SK do not have this.

Small correction* The channel tunnel was opened before 1994. People used to walk through the channel to France. Queen victoria opened it. It was only in 1994 that trains were able to go through Great video keep going

6:14 ... 외국 사람들 특히 제3자의 입장에서는 좋은 것이 좋은 것이다라고 생각하기 쉽네요.....

I think comparing with uk and france is not so good. Has france ever been colonized by uk for 36 years?

Bro Kento Bento’s way of transitioning into an ad is very smooth

There are some fundamental differences between this tunnel and Chunnel: - Chunnel connects the UK to all of Europe. For all intents and purposes, land travel from South Korea to Russia or China is impossible, so this bridge would not connect Japan to Asia. - Even if you overcome that problem, countries in the region are divided by mountain ranges and politics, with little inter-country train traffic or economic union. - Although the UK and France had a historical divide, they were also both engaged in the European Union at the time of tunnel construction. Japan and South Korea do engage with each other in a friendly manner, but not to the degree of cooperation seen within the European Union.

Me: read the title I brain automatically: No.

I personally don't think this will happen. To Costly, there is plane and ship.. why bother?

Japan will be the island country forever. No problems.

The relationship between the UK and France is very different than S'Korea and Japan. The last war we fought with France was over 200 years ago, today that rivalry is only really apparent at football matches and even then its quite friendly. Japan colonised and brutalised the Korean people and only left 70 years ago, there are still Koreans who can remember the atrocities committed against them, and plenty of them have children who will take up their cause. I think reconciliation can happen but it will take a long time and probably only out of necessity.

I think the correct time to build this tunnel is when North and South Korea are united.

When the tunnel was built Korea: Oh no! Japanese imperialists might take over Korea using this! Japan:Oh no! North Korea might use this to invade our land!

역사적 위기의 순간마다 뒷통수를 쳐왔던 일본인데 뭣하러 혈세를 퍼붙어서 터널을 만들어야 하나.

The relation between Japan and SE Asia has never been too friendly Post WWII, Japan committed some of the worst war crimes in human history during the 30-40s. It's hard to forget when generations of people still feel the aftereffects of the war. There's a lot of political and historical barriers for Japan to overcome in order to bring reconciliation with their neighbours. There have been some amendments made by them, but it was enough to heal the wound. My mother's grandfather was taken away by the Japanese military to serve as part of their puppet force in China. Needlessly to say, he was never seen again. Personally, it would be a grand project if everything come to fruition. But we are still a long way from getting therre.

Wish the historical burden between the East-Asian countries can be resolved between people. Wish people from different cultures can shake hand with each other and together step toward a more civilized future.

Not only Japan Korea tunnel is possible but these tunnels and bridges are also possible: Japan Russia tunnel or bridge Russia USA bridge between Bering Strait Europe Africa bridge or tunnel between the Strait of Gibraltar Malaysia Indonesia tunnel between Strait of Malacca Sri Lanka India bridge between Adams bridge Africa Asia bridge between Djibouti and Arab peninsula

Yes, let's just continue to hate each other until humanity goes extinct.. that's a good idea. I swear these comments make me so sad.

if Asian nations all joined forces (HIGHLY unlikely), could you imagine how powerful they would be economically and technologically (as opposed to military might which I would rather not discuss)? They would be a HUGE superpower!

Yes THANKS FOR THIS

I thought we already learned that trains to Busan are dangerous. But on a serious note, it sounds like there is a cell phone going of in the next room throughout the video.

The most important thing is who is going to get the contract to build the thing. 10 billion a year sound very nice.

This honestly, although well made, will never happen. Simply because both countries cannot stand the other becoming more powerful. They'd rather cut off their own legs rather than grow wings together.

This was truly an amazing video from so many aspects. History, Culture, Science, Physics, Engineering, Socioeconomic factors, Sociopolitical factors, Environment and so many more my feeble mind has been unable to process. I am not Japanese or Korean but i've seen conflict and the fruits of ending conflict and letting bygones be bygones.

anothet perk of a interbatiom highway system is that alaska would get much economical development with people staying there after a long drive and even a boom in the hotel industry for the state

As many people have said before, the history between Japan and Korea is very deep and not really flowers in the meadow. I personally don't agree with the tunnel in many different ways. But most of these reasons can be boiled down to its history and influence. I agree with a lot of people in the comments that in the economic state of Korea, it isn't wise to build such a massive tunnel to connect Korea to Japan. It also doesn't help that Korea had to get rid of it's president. Which means a lot of people may not trust the government. With this untrust, how could the government say yes to such a big project? I mean the cost of the two bridges you mentioned is a lot of money. You say that Korea could benefit with a 150% increase in economics. But I would like to know how that is possible. To be honest the main problem is that if you don't understand the full story and the full history of the conflict, it shouldn't be in your right to have an opinion. I am Korean and people may say that I am bias towards Korea but, I've looked at both sides and even though I've seen Japans side, there is no way that it is okay for people to force labor and treat them the way they did to Korea. But not just in Korea. The Nanking Massacre in China was also causd by Japan and they've done horrible things (don't want to get into the gruesome detail). I would like to see Japan formally apologize and people may say they did. But to me, they haven't really. Japan still doesn't address any of this history into their history books. That means if people address this situation, the people in Japan could be like "nope it never happened." That's a problem with history. I personally don't want to find out about the gruesome things our country has done to others but it is important to know so that we don't repeat it again. A lot of people say that history repeats itself. But there are things that history shouldn't repeat.

Hey

The problem is korea doesn't need Japan to get economical boost but Japan need korea to get economical boost. Korea peninsula is already connected to Asia continent but Japan isn't. So there arent really a point for Korea to do this expensive and dangerous task. (Earthquake, radiation, social barriers, etc.) And i could not find where do you get that 150% increase for korea and 5% for japan. Japan and korea has similar technology level with gdp per capita. Just japan have more people.

How do you do those animation diagrams?

France and England have been at war for a thousand years, you most likely couldn't launch an effective invasion through a tunnel like that.

Korea and Japan have no chance of connecting the undersea tunnel so don't think useless.

In Japan's defense, Wonjong tried invading Japan too :D

Don't worry. Japanese don't hope the crazy plan.

A Japan-Korea tunnel would also connect China and North Korea, there's just too much money at stake. As Dubya once said, money trumps peace. But in reality, money trumps everything.

I hope, in my lifetime, I can see the trans-global railway being built... that would be a monument of peace

何この罰ゲーム？

This tunnel will only benefit japan. It will make trade cheaper and easier for japan by connecting to the eurasian continent by road, but makes it more competitive to korea. Also south korea would rather spend this money to help develop north korea. Why should spend all this money for a tunnel that will only help japan?

it sad to see the name "Sea of Japan" that part of the Sea isn't Japan's ocean at all ;(

" We cannot embrace gods forgiveness if we are so clinging to past old wounds and nursing old grudges" - T.D. Jakes. This doesnt apply to just god but it applies to every single human being in this world, we cannot progess unless we understand and forgive the past, not dwell on the past with anger and regret. Change will not be easy but it is possible.

If you want to build a tunnel to South Korea, you would only gain access to South Korea as there is no other way to mainland Asia apart from going through North Korea

I heard this guy is closet japanese nationalist.

Yeah, I remember this project growing up in Korea in the 70s. It'd be really cool if this ever became true.

This will trigger Korea's collective PTSD.

Rail gauge and driver side isn't a (huge) issue: Japan's high speed rail does drive on standard gauge. And driving side, well the same "issue" is present with the channel tunnel

EAST ASIAN COMMUNITY? Totally unrealistic. Japan is happily isolated from the peninsula and the continent. There is virtually no support for the tunnel plan from Japan side though the plan was raised time to time from the other side of the channel.

North Korea: *그것은 무료 부동산*