Japan Cabinet Secretariat calls Soma, the consul who made sexual remarks about Moon, "highly inappropriate" and expresses regret

▲Hirohisa Soma, Minister-Counselor of the Embassy of Japan in Korea [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] The Japanese government has officially expressed regret over Soma Hirohisa, the Minister in Charge at the Embassy of Japan in Korea, causing controversy by using sexual expressions towards President Moon Jae-in.

On the 19th, Kato Katsunobu, Chief Cabinet Secretary of Japan, stated at a regular press conference regarding the issue with Soma Hirohisa, "Under any circumstances or context, it was a highly inappropriate remark for a diplomat," and added, "We deeply regret it."

Secretary Kato said that he understands that there are calls for disciplinary dismissal of Minister Soma, and that Ambassador Aiboshi Koichi of Japan in Korea has given him a stern warning.

He also mentioned, "This becomes a personnel issue in a broad sense for overseas diplomatic staff," and that Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu will make a judgment from the perspective of "placing the right person in the right position," considering Soma’s term of office.

Foreign Minister Motegi is currently on a tour of Central American and Caribbean countries such as Guatemala and Jamaica, scheduled to return from the 15th to the 21st.

Earlier, the Yomiuri Shimbun reported that the Japanese government wishes to avoid Soma’s inappropriate remarks becoming an obstacle to the Korea-Japan summit, and plans to dismiss Minister Soma in line with President Moon Jae-in’s visit to Japan coinciding with the Tokyo Olympics.

Regarding whether Soma’s remarks will affect the holding of the Korea-Japan summit, Secretary Kato said, "If President Moon comes, we have repeatedly said that we will respond politely in diplomatic terms," and added, "At this stage, President Moon’s visit to Japan has not yet been confirmed."

Minister Soma caused controversy after using the term "masturbation" in a derogatory sense to describe President Moon’s efforts to improve Korea-Japan relations during an interview with a Korean media outlet on the 15th. The Embassy of Japan in Korea confirmed the problematic remarks and announced on the 17th that Minister Soma was given a stern warning.

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