Japanese Media: "Helping Korea for 150 Years, Korea Should Send K-Syringes"…Netizens React 'Absurd'

"Korea Receives Medical Benefits Thanks to Japan... Consideration for Economically Disadvantaged Joseon People"
"Koreans Have Strong Sense of Victimization Toward Japan"

A Japanese media outlet claimed that Korea has been receiving medical benefits from Japan for 150 years and argued that K syringes should be sent to Japan. Photo by Yahoo Japan News.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-ju] A Japanese media outlet has sparked controversy by claiming that Korea has benefited from Japanese medical services for the past 150 years and insisting that K-Syringes should be sent to Japan.

On the 10th, the Japanese media outlet WowKorea published an article titled "Why South Korean President Moon Jae-in Should Send K-Syringes to Japan," making these claims.

WowKorea stated, "Japan's contribution to Korea's modernization was no exception in the medical field," adding, "For 111 years, Korea received the baptism of modernization from Japan, saving countless lives and making remarkable advancements in medical technology."

The outlet argued, "Joseon ended its long isolationist policy in 1876 by signing a modern diplomatic treaty (the Treaty of Ganghwa) with the Japanese government and opening its ports."

It further added, "Modern medicine in Joseon began in 1872 at the Japanese settlement in Busan. The clinic run by Japanese doctor Takada Hidesaku marked the beginning."

The Treaty of Ganghwa was an unequal treaty signed under coercion by Japanese military force during the reign of King Gojong of Joseon, officially named the Treaty of Amity and Commerce between Japan and Joseon.

In particular, the media emphasized that Japan provided medical benefits to Korea in the past.

The article claimed, "At that time, the medical fee for Japanese was over 6 jeon, but for Joseon people, it was set at 320 ri, cheaper than for the Japanese," arguing that "Japan showed consideration for the economically weaker Joseon people."

It even made the absurd claim that "there is a strong sense of victimization against Japan in Korea, leading to efforts to deny all Japanese contributions," but "conscientious Koreans know this; they just cannot speak out."

Moreover, insisting that Korea should send K-Syringes to Japan, the article stated, "If Korean medical services can contribute to Japanese healthcare in this way, which has been helping Koreans on the Korean Peninsula for 150 years, whether good or bad, it would have significance for Korea-Japan exchanges."

It continued, "I hope President Moon Jae-in sends syringes left in Korea to Japan, and Prime Minister Suga sends surplus vaccines in Japan next year to Korea," expressing this expectation.

The article has drawn incredulous reactions not only from Korean netizens but also from Japanese netizens.

One Japanese netizen said, "What does it mean that there are surplus vaccines in Japan?" and added, "We don't need Korean-made syringes." Another local netizen sarcastically told Koreans, "Japan has developed syringes that can be used seven times. Keep up your anti-Japan efforts."

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