Leading Candidate for Next Japanese Prime Minister Calls Ahn Jung-geun a Criminal... Controversy Over Historical Awareness

Revisiting Past Remarks by Suga Yoshihide, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary
Also Viewed as Statements Amid Strained Japan-South Korea Relations by the Japanese Government Spokesperson

▲Yoshihide Suga, Chief Cabinet Secretary of Japan [Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] Interest is focusing on the historical perspective of Suga Yoshihide, Chief Cabinet Secretary and a leading candidate for Japan's next prime minister, after it was reported that he stated, "We have conveyed to the South Korean government that An Jung-geun is a criminal."

Since the launch of the second Abe Shinzo Cabinet in December 2012, Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga has held almost daily press conferences. His statements during these briefings have generally aligned with the Abe administration's policies and often took a firm stance against South Korea.

One particularly notable remark concerns An Jung-geun, the activist who assassinated Ito Hirobumi.

On November 19, 2013, when asked about South Korea and China's efforts to install a monument for An Jung-geun, Suga stated, "Our country (Japan) has consistently conveyed to the South Korean government that An Jung-geun is a criminal," adding, "The monument does not help Japan-South Korea relations."

When a memorial hall for An Jung-geun opened in China in January 2014, he said, "An Jung-geun is a terrorist who assassinated our country's (Japan's) first prime minister and was sentenced to death," starkly highlighting the difference in historical perception with South Korea.

In August 2018, when the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination issued a report urging Japan to resolve the issue of comfort women from the victims' perspective, Suga responded, "We deeply regret that the Japanese government's explanations were not sufficiently considered."

More recently, regarding South Korea's judicial procedures on forced labor during the Japanese colonial period, he described them as "violations of international law" and hinted at possible retaliatory measures should Japanese companies' assets in South Korea be forcibly sold.

He responded, "We will closely cooperate with the companies involved and calmly respond by considering all options from the perspective of protecting the legitimate economic activities of Japanese companies."

However, as Suga is a spokesperson for the Japanese government and these remarks came amid strained Japan-South Korea relations, some interpret that these statements do not necessarily reflect Suga's personal views.

Considering that he once discouraged Prime Minister Abe from visiting the Yasukuni Shrine and cautioned politicians against provocative remarks toward South Korea, attention is also on whether he will strive to prevent further deterioration in Japan-South Korea relations.

Having served long as Chief Cabinet Secretary responsible for crisis management in the absence of a prime minister, Suga has rarely traveled abroad in recent years and has not been directly involved in diplomatic activities, leaving his foreign policy direction shrouded in mystery.

The Sankei Shimbun reported on the 2nd that if Suga becomes prime minister, it will basically be as a "crisis management cabinet" succeeding the Abe administration.

The newspaper also noted that Suga's diplomatic skills are "unknown," and that persistent efforts will be necessary to deepen the important Japan-U.S. relationship.

Some speculate that since Suga has a weak independent support base and is likely to become prime minister with backing from other factions, he will act cautiously while balancing the interests of various groups.

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