“Worship is a memorial” “It is not an apology” Opinions are divided
While President Yoon Seok-yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida decided to pay their respects together at the “Cenotaph for Korean Atomic Bomb Victims” in Hiroshima, Japan, from the 19th to the 21st of this month, the families of the three atomic bomb victims who Dong-A Ilbo spoke to on the 9th said, “The two heads of state were affected by the atomic bombing.” It is unprecedented to commemorate the victims for the first time in more than 70 years.”
Park Sang-bok, president of the Gyeonggi-do Atomic Bomb Victims Association, said, “Many of the atomic bomb victims in Hiroshima were victims of forced labor (during the Japanese colonial period).” Mr. Park also emphasized, “It is the first time that the Japanese prime minister pays tribute to the monument, and it is a positive progress that has not been done so far.”
However, opinions among the bereaved families were divided as to whether Prime Minister Kishida’s visit to the shrine could be accepted as an apology to the victims of forced labor. Mr. Park said, “Since he did not acknowledge the fact of forced labor, I don’t think (this visit) is an apology.” On the other hand, Jeong Sa-hyung, son of the late Jeong Sang-hwa, a victim of forced labor and an atomic bomb victim, said, “Paying at the tombstone of (Prime Minister Kishida) itself means remembrance.” He also said, “(To Japan) It is difficult to say, ‘Why did you only take eight steps when you should have taken ten steps?’” The President’s office said on the previous day (8th) that among the victims of the atomic bombing in Hiroshima, there were also Korean victims of forced labor, implying that Prime Minister Kishida’s visit to the memorial monument also included the nature of commemorating the victims of forced labor.
Lee Kyu-mae, the son of the late Lee Byeong-mok, a victim of forced labor and atomic bomb victim, said, “Until now, the bereaved families have collected membership fees to manage the memorial and hold memorial services.” I wish they would pay more attention.” Some atomic bomb victims are said to have informed the government of their intention to visit Hiroshima in line with President Yoon’s visit to the memorial.
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.