Son Ki-jung Introduced as 'Japanese Gold Medalist'... Seo Kyung-deok "Sent Protest Email"

Seokyeongdeok Emphasizes "Korean Athlete Competed as Part of Japanese Team"
Son Kijeong Won at 1936 Berlin Olympics
In 1992 Interview, He Expressed "56 Years of Resentment Resolved"

Photo of Korean marathon runner Sohn Kee-chung in the "Japanese Gold Medalists" section installed at the Tokyo Olympic Museum in Japan. / Photo by Seokyungdeok Facebook capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Professor Seokyungdeok from Sungshin Women's University sent a protest email to the Tokyo Olympic Organizing Committee and the Japanese Olympic Committee for introducing marathon runner Son Kijeong as a 'Japanese gold medalist.'

On the 17th, Professor Seo wrote on his Facebook, "There is expected controversy as Son Kijeong is exhibited as a Japanese person at the 'Japan Olympic Museum' near the main stadium of the Tokyo Olympics."

He continued, "People living in Tokyo reported this, and after our team checked, Son Kijeong is displayed at the top of the 'Japanese gold medalists' introduction corner in the museum," adding, "A photo of Son wearing a laurel wreath and standing on the podium is exhibited with only the Japanese caption 'Son Kijeong, Men's Marathon Athletics, 1936 Berlin Games'." He pointed out that the museum's description could easily lead visitors to mistakenly think Son is a Japanese athlete.

He also criticized, "The IOC website clearly states that Korea was under Japanese colonial rule at the time and clarifies that Son Kijeong was Korean."

Professor Seo said, "As the IOC revealed, we sent a protest email to the Tokyo Olympic Organizing Committee and the Japanese Olympic Committee requesting accurate explanations about athlete Son Kijeong to prevent misunderstandings among visitors," emphasizing, "It is a historical fact that Son competed as part of the Japanese team wearing the Rising Sun flag, but the fact that he was 'Korean,' not 'Japanese,' must be properly known worldwide."

Player Son standing on the winner's podium at the 1936 Berlin Summer Olympics. / Photo by Yonhap News

Meanwhile, Son won the gold medal in the marathon at the 1936 Berlin Summer Olympics. During the Japanese colonial period, he belonged to the Japanese delegation and competed as a Japanese athlete, wearing the Rising Sun flag on his chest.

A photo of Son holding a laurel pot while standing on the podium after winning the marathon became a topic of discussion. In the photo, Son cleverly covered the Rising Sun flag on his chest with the pot he was holding, and this act later became known as the 'Rising Sun Flag Erasure Incident.'

In a 1992 interview with the media when marathon runner Hwang Youngjo won at the Barcelona Olympics, Son said, "On the chest of Hwang Youngjo, who won today, is not the Rising Sun flag Hinomaru but our Taegeukgi. Today, the national anthem of Korea is played instead of the Kimigayo of Berlin. Finally, the grudge that lasted 56 years has been resolved, and Youngjo has restored my nationality. Now I have no regrets even if I die."

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