President Moon: "Korean Government Actively Cooperates for the Success of the Tokyo Olympics"

"An Opportunity for Peace on the Korean Peninsula and Improvement of Korea-Japan Relations"
"Regarding Forced Labor, Japan Should Also Propose Solutions"

On the 14th, citizens are watching the live broadcast of President Moon Jae-in's New Year's press conference in the waiting room of Seoul Station, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

President Moon Jae-in said on the 14th, "I hope the 2020 Tokyo Olympics will be a good opportunity to promote peace on the Korean Peninsula and fundamentally resolve issues in Korea-Japan relations."

At the New Year's press conference held at the Blue House State Guest House that day, President Moon stated, "The Korean government plans to actively cooperate for the success of the Tokyo Olympics," expressing this view.

President Moon said, "First, some unified teams between the South and North have been agreed upon, and the Tokyo Olympics can be made into a venue to promote peace on the Korean Peninsula through methods such as joint entrances by the South and North."

He continued, "It can also be an opportunity to improve and promote exchanges in Korea-Japan relations," adding, "Just as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attended the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, it is expected that a high-level representative from Korea will attend the Tokyo Olympics." President Moon also said, "I hope the Tokyo Olympics will be a good opportunity to fundamentally resolve issues in Korea-Japan relations."

President Moon emphasized that Japan must also play a role in resolving the forced labor issue, which remains a flashpoint in Korea-Japan relations.

He said, "The Korean government has already proposed solutions several times," but added, "Japan also needs to propose solutions and work together with Korea."

President Moon stated, "I do not think the solutions proposed by Korea are the only solutions," and said, "If Japan has any revised opinions, they should present them, and if Korea’s proposed plans and Japan’s revised plans are placed together and discussed with wisdom, I believe there is sufficient room to resolve the issue."

Furthermore, President Moon stressed the importance of 'victims' consent' in this process. He explained, "The most important part of the (forced labor) solution is obtaining the consent of the victims," and added, "No matter how much the governments of Korea and Japan agree, without the victims' consent, it does not help resolve the problem, as we painfully experienced during the previous comfort women agreement."

President Moon said that Japan is Korea’s closest neighbor and that Korea and Japan should aim for a cooperative relationship. He said, "Except for export regulations and GSOMIA, Korea-Japan relations are very healthy and good," and added, "Korea regards Japan as its closest neighboring country."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.