Japanese Museum Disguising Athlete Sohn Kee-chung as Japanese... Rising Anti-Japanese Sentiment Amid Repeated Historical Distortions

Japan Olympic Museum "Son Kijung, Japanese Gold Medalist"
Earlier Tokyo Olympics Website 'Dokdo' Label Controversy
Citizens "Let's Boycott the Olympics" Outrage

Athlete Sohn Kee-chung exhibited at the Japan Olympic Museum. Photo by Seokyungdeok, Professor at Sungshin Women's University, Facebook capture.

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] "Why is a Korean athlete called a Japanese gold medalist?"

Japan is facing controversy for introducing Korea's marathon hero, the late Sohn Kee-chung (1912?2002), as a "Japanese gold medalist" at the Olympic Museum. While it is true that Sohn Kee-chung had no choice but to compete wearing the Japanese flag on his chest during the Japanese colonial period when he participated in the Olympics, it is considered inappropriate to present him as a Japanese athlete.

Previously, Japan also sparked controversy last month by marking Dokdo as Japanese territory on the official Tokyo Olympics website map. The repeated historical distortions by Japan have intensified anti-Japanese sentiment among citizens.

Recently, the Japanese Olympic Museum near the Tokyo Olympic Stadium has placed a photo of Sohn Kee-chung, the 1936 Berlin Olympic marathon gold medalist, at the top of the "All-time Japanese Gold Medalists" exhibition corner, causing public outrage.

According to Professor Seo Kyung-duk of Sungshin Women's University, the exhibition features a photo of Sohn Kee-chung wearing a laurel wreath standing on the podium. Notably, the caption below the photo reads, "Sohn Kee-chung, Men's Marathon Athletics, 1936 Berlin Games."

Professor Seo stated, "When Japanese visitors encounter Sohn Kee-chung in a space introducing 'all-time Japanese gold medalists,' they are inevitably led to misunderstand him as Japanese. I have sent protest emails to the Tokyo Olympic Organizing Committee and the Japanese Olympic Committee, urging them to include accurate explanations about Sohn Kee-chung to prevent misunderstandings among visitors."

At the top of the 'All-Time Japanese Gold Medalists' exhibition corner inside the Japan Olympic Museum, there is a photo of athlete Sohn Kee-chung. Photo by Seokyungdeok, Professor at Sungshin Women's University, captured from Facebook.

Sohn Kee-chung, born in 1912 in Sinuiju, North Pyongan Province, competed in the 1936 Berlin Olympic marathon as part of the Japanese delegation during the Japanese colonial period, wearing the Japanese flag on his chest. He won the race, setting a world record of 2 hours 29 minutes 19 seconds.

After ascending the podium, Sohn Kee-chung bowed his head, covering the Japanese flag on his chest with a laurel wreath pot as the Japanese flag was raised and the Kimigayo anthem played. After his victory, he sent a postcard from Berlin to a friend in Korea with the word "Seulpuda" (meaning "sad") written on it. This moment reveals the sorrow he felt having to compete under the Japanese flag despite being Korean.

Consequently, criticism is growing against the Japanese Olympic Museum for introducing Sohn Kee-chung as a "Japanese gold medalist." While it is true that he competed as part of the Japanese team wearing the Japanese flag, considering the pain of the era, it is argued that at least the explanation "Korean" should have been included.

University student Lee (25) said, "How can Sohn Kee-chung be called Japanese? Japan has crossed the line. Although Sohn Kee-chung competed as a Japanese athlete at the time, he was undoubtedly Korean. Just because he competed for another country doesn't mean a Korean becomes someone else."

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) clarifies that Sohn Kee-chung was Korean. On the IOC website, Sohn Kee-chung is described with the historical context that "Korea was under Japanese colonial rule at the time," and is listed as "Sohn Kee-chung of Korea (South Korea)."

Tokyo Olympic homepage labeling Dokdo as Japanese territory. Photo by Seokyungdeok, Professor at Sungshin Women's University, Facebook screenshot.

Previously, Japan caused controversy by marking Dokdo as its territory on the torch relay course map on the Tokyo Olympics website. When Japan refused to correct this despite demands from the Korean government, calls for a boycott of the Tokyo Olympics arose, especially within political circles.

Citizens are outraged by Japan's repeated historical distortions and are urging the government to take strong action. Office worker Kim (28) said, "China claimed Yuna Kim and Son Heung-min as Chinese, and now Japan claims Sohn Kee-chung as Japanese. Why is our country always the victim of historical distortion? The government needs to respond strongly to these cases."

He added, "Especially with the Tokyo Olympics, controversies over historical distortion seem endless. Last month, Japan insisted Dokdo was their land. We should consider boycotting the Olympics altogether."

Criticism also came from political circles. Former Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun wrote on Facebook, "Japan displayed a photo of Sohn Kee-chung in the Olympic Museum as if he were Japanese. We cannot overlook this and will correct it immediately. Sohn Kee-chung and Nam Sung-yong, who stood on the Berlin Olympic podium, are proud Koreans. Dokdo is also Korean territory."

Experts emphasize the need to inform the world that Sohn Kee-chung was Korean. Professor Seo Kyung-duk said, "It is a historical fact that Sohn Kee-chung competed wearing the Japanese flag as part of the Japanese team. However, it is essential to properly inform the world that Sohn Kee-chung was not 'Japanese' but 'Korean.'"

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