The Democratic Party of Korea strongly criticized President Yoon Seok-yeol’s remarks at the Korea-Japan summit joint press conference on the 7th, saying, “It will be recorded as a president who made history.”
Democratic Party spokesperson Kang Seon-woo said at a press conference at the National Assembly Communications Office that day, “The president’s stance of thoroughly ignoring the history of the Republic of Korea, which is a universal human rights issue, and continuing humiliating diplomacy was faithfully reflected in the outcome of the Korea-Japan summit.”
He said, “I think that ‘the two countries should get out of the perception that they cannot take a single step toward future cooperation unless the past is completely settled’. President Yoon’s words contained all the meaning of today’s Korea-Japan summit.”
“Why should the premise of restoring diplomacy between the two countries be giving up on our history? President Yoon insisted that ‘the past is an issue that cannot be demanded of one side’,” and criticized, “The Korean people who see President Yoon representing Japan’s position in front of the people are truly miserable and vain.”
There was also criticism of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s remarks.
Spokesperson Kang said, “There was no reflection or apology from Prime Minister Kishida. There was no acknowledgment of coercion,” he said. “Regarding the issue of forced mobilization, he criticized, saying, ‘I am heartbroken that many people who had to work in difficult environments at the time had a difficult and sad experience.’”
“Prime Minister Kishida was in a hurry to reduce the meaning of even this as an individual idea,” he said. “History is not a matter of the past. The issues of comfort women and victims of forced labor are still ongoing and are universal human rights issues. The whole world is watching President Yoon’s attitude toward this universal human rights issue.”
There was also a statement to the effect that discussions on pending issues between the two countries were not sufficient.
Spokesperson Kang said, “Japan is still distorting history by distorting history textbooks and claiming Dokdo.”
He also said, “For Fukushima contaminated water, we have not been able to carry out the clear principle of ‘oppose the discharge if safety is not secured’.” I am deeply concerned that it is only building a justification.”
He said, “With regard to pending issues like this, I cannot help but ask what President Yoon says about the shared values and common interests of Korea and Japan, and what the common leadership of the two countries is.”
In addition, “Who gave President Yoon the right to overcome the forced mobilization, the comfort women issue, and our pain? He pointed out, “Who gave the qualifications to forgive? President Yoon Seok-yeol’s absurd remarks today, which forgot the historicity, can only be evaluated as rare diplomacy of obedience.”
Lastly, he said, “President Seok-Yeol Yoon will be recorded in history as a president who ignored history and a president who foresaw history and sold it.”
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.