Jung Jin-seok Emphasizes "Korea and Japan Must Gather Wisdom Together"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] Jeong Jin-seok, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly and head of the Korea-Japan Policy Consultation Delegation dispatched by President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol, stated on the 28th that Korea cannot come up with a solution alone regarding the lawsuits filed by victims of the Japanese colonial period.

Deputy Speaker Jeong met with Korean correspondents at a hotel in Tokyo that morning and said, "This is a problem that cannot be solved with one hand clapping," adding, "I clearly conveyed that both Korea and Japan must gather courage, wisdom, and patience to resolve it." The Japanese side's stance is that Korea should propose a solution.

Regarding the issue of Japanese military comfort women, he said, "I acknowledge the official agreement between the two countries and do not deny that perspective," but emphasized to the Japanese side that "we must not overlook the fundamental spirit of restoring the victims' honor and healing their emotional wounds. I stressed that this issue stems from painful wounds."

Concerning the ongoing forced sale (liquidation) of Japanese companies' assets in Korea following lawsuits filed by forced labor victims, it was reported that the Japanese side raised several issues with the delegation. Deputy Speaker Jeong explained, "I responded that we will not allow the current Korea-Japan relationship to deteriorate further."

Regarding a report by the Tokyo Shimbun citing an anonymous diplomatic source that the delegation conveyed a strong intention during a meeting with Liberal Democratic Party lawmakers that "Japan will not allow the liquidation of assets over the forced labor issue," he firmly denied, saying, "I never used the expression that we will not allow liquidation."

Deputy Speaker Jeong said that through this visit, "I made it clear that we cannot deny the past and at the same time emphasized the need for future-oriented relationship development."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Korea and Japan also reached a consensus to further strengthen strategic cooperation at the Korea-Japan and Korea-US-Japan levels, including cooperation on North Korea, to maintain regional stability. He explained, "There was a lot of discussion about the urgent need for strategic cooperation among Korea, the US, and Japan amid rapidly changing international circumstances such as North Korea's recent successive provocations, the Ukraine crisis, and the intensifying confrontation between the US and China."

Regarding President-elect Yoon's pledge to seek a comprehensive resolution of Korea-Japan conflicts, he said, "I understand that a comprehensive resolution is not necessarily synonymous with a 'package deal.' I told the Japanese officials I met that we should solve the easier issues first and then tackle the more difficult ones."

Deputy Speaker Jeong stated, "The delegation established a clear consensus that exchanges between the two countries must be restored promptly," and that they reached agreement on resuming the Gimpo-Haneda route, restoring visa exemptions, and expanding quarantine exemptions. A memorable conversation was when former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe inquired about former President Park Geun-hye's well-being.

The delegation will depart for Korea from Narita International Airport in the afternoon.

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