Kang Chang-il "Korea-Japan Future-Oriented", Gwangbok Association President "No Begging in Diplomacy"

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo In-ho] Kang Chang-il, the South Korean Ambassador to Japan, stated on the 8th regarding Korea-Japan relations, "We must inherit the noble spirit of our ancestors and move forward to establish a future-oriented development and cooperative relationship in which both Korea and Japan coexist and prosper."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the same day, at a commemorative ceremony held at the Korea YMCA in Tokyo, Japan, Ambassador Kang conveyed a message read by Kim Yong-gil, Political Minister of the Korean Embassy in Japan, saying, "(President Moon Jae-in) also said, 'We will continue to strive for the future-oriented development of Korea-Japan relations,'" and added, "The government will continue dialogue and efforts for future-oriented development between the two countries based on mutual understanding and trust."

Amid extremely deteriorated Korea-Japan relations due to historical issues, the South Korean government emphasized its intention to improve relations by building a future-oriented relationship with Japan.

The head of the Korean Residents Union in Japan (Mindan) stated, "Relations between North and South Korea and Korea-Japan relations are in a difficult state with no visible exit," and stressed the necessity of improving Korea-Japan relations by saying, "We must strive so that not only the Korean residents in Japan but also the next generations of both Korea and Japan can create a new era."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Kim Won-woong, President of the Liberation Association, pointed out in a written message sent to the commemorative ceremony, "Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide frequently claims that 'the basis of Korea-Japan relations is the 1965 Claims Agreement,' but this fails to acknowledge the illegality of Japanese colonial rule, and the agreement text contains not a single clause regarding the truth investigation, apology, or compensation for the crimes against humanity committed by Japan."

President Kim stated, "Japan has only been accustomed to collusive diplomacy with successive pro-Japanese regimes and underestimates the Korean people's brilliantly awakened will to practice historical justice," and defined, "To succumb to the Japanese government's high-handed attitude and to show a humiliating posture of begging for diplomacy goes against the will of the independence movement ancestors."

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