Yomiuri "First Korea-Japan Summit on the 23rd... President Moon to Visit Japan During Olympics"

Tokyo Motoakasaka State Guest House Event Held
Inappropriate Remarks Lead to Dismissal Plan for Soma Chief Engineer

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] According to a report by the Yomiuri Shimbun on the 19th, the governments of South Korea and Japan have agreed to hold the first face-to-face summit between President Moon Jae-in and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga in Tokyo on the opening day of the Tokyo Olympics, the 23rd.

According to the report, President Moon is expected to visit Japan for the Tokyo Olympics, and the South Korea-Japan summit will be held at the Motoakasaka Guest House in Tokyo.

The Yomiuri anticipated that the two leaders will discuss issues surrounding comfort women and forced labor victims during this summit.

The Japanese government is reportedly planning to dismiss Hirohisa Soma, the Minister-Counselor at the Embassy of Japan in South Korea, who caused controversy with a sexual remark targeting President Moon, coinciding with President Moon’s visit to Japan.

Minister-Counselor Soma sparked significant controversy after using the term "masturbation" in an interview with a Korean media outlet on the 15th to disparage President Moon’s efforts to improve South Korea-Japan relations, implying they were self-indulgent.

The Yomiuri reported that the Japanese government wants to avoid Soma’s inappropriate remarks becoming an obstacle to the South Korea-Japan summit.

A senior Japanese government official was quoted by the Yomiuri as saying, "His remarks were something a diplomat should not have said."

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