A South Korean parliamentary delegation led by a confidant of President Park Geun-hye left for Japan on Wednesday for a three-day visit expected to include a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

The visit by members of the South Korea-Japan lawmakers' association comes as the two countries' ties have been strained over various issues related to their shared history, including the Japanese military's sexual enslavement of Korean women during World War II.

In Tokyo, the bipartisan group headed by Rep. Suh Chung-won, a seven-term lawmaker of the ruling Saenuri Party with reportedly close ties to Park, is scheduled to hold meetings with Japanese political leaders and attend a New Year's meeting with Korean residents in Japan.

The group could also meet with Abe on Thursday, although planning is still under way, according to sources close to the matter, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

A main focus of attention in the visit has been on whether Suh will carry a personal letter from Park to Abe.

Sources have said Park did not send a letter.

In October, Abe delivered a letter to Park through a Japanese parliamentary delegation, saying he would like to improve their countries' soured relations through summit talks.

Park has insisted on holding a summit only after Tokyo demonstrates sincerity about resolving South Koreans' grievances over Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula. (Yonhap)