Ruling Party Reviews Resolution Condemning Japan's Forced 'Takeshima Day'

Deliberating Response Levels Including Resolution Condemning Foreign Affairs Committee
Professor Ramseyer's Paper to Be Addressed as a 'Long-Term Plan'

[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] The ruling party plans to escalate its response to Japan's successive attempts at historical distortion, including the insistence on 'Takeshima Day' and the controversy over Professor Ramseyer's paper.

On the 23rd, Kim Young-ho, the ruling party's floor leader on the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, said in a phone interview with Asia Economy, "(The insistence on Takeshima Day) is an issue that must be immediately addressed by the Foreign Affairs Committee," adding, "We will prepare countermeasures, including considering the proposal of a resolution at the standing committee level." The resolution is expected to include calls for the withdrawal of Japan's designation of 'Takeshima Day' and a demand to stop historical distortion.

Shimane Prefecture in Japan designated February 22 as 'Takeshima Day' and holds events annually. The event held on the 22nd this year, the first since the inauguration of the Yoshihide Suga administration, saw the dispatch of Yoshiaki, a senior official (vice-minister level) from the Cabinet Office. Since the launch of Shinzo Abe's second cabinet in 2013, the Japanese government has sent vice-minister level officials for nine consecutive years, causing repeated Korea-Japan conflicts every year.

The party also plans to continue its response at the party level regarding the paper by Harvard Law School Professor Mark Ramseyer, who characterized the victims of Japanese military sexual slavery as 'prostitutes.'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Song Young-gil, chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, said in a phone interview with this paper, "(The issue related to Professor Ramseyer) should be addressed with a long-term plan," adding, "We will use all possible means within the framework of the law." Chairman Song specifically mentioned, "We will consult with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to find ways to support the future generation education project of the World History Digital Education Foundation to proceed well."

Earlier, on the 19th, Chairman Song sent a letter of protest to Harvard President Lawrence Bacow, stating that "this will cause permanent damage not only to Harvard University's academic integrity but also to its reputation as a representative university of the United States."

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also took a strong stance, declaring it will not tolerate provocations by the Japanese government. Regarding the insistence on holding the 'Takeshima Day' event, it summoned Hirohisa Soma, the minister in charge at the Embassy of Japan in Korea, on the previous day to strongly protest and urged the cancellation of the event through a spokesperson's statement, calling it a "pointless provocation against Dokdo."

Regarding Professor Ramseyer's paper, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Choi Young-sam stated on the 18th, "It is desirable for our government to refrain from expressing a specific position on the academic research results of a private scholar at this stage," but added, "One point to emphasize is that historical facts, including the victims of sexual slavery, have already been universally proven through numerous victims' testimonies and investigations by international organizations."

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