Jung Jin-seok's Statement "Japan Never Waged War Against Joseon" Sparks Controversy... Opposition Calls It "Typical Colonial Perspective Language"

Jung: "Joseon Had No Power to Defend the Country... No Repeat of Late Joseon Era Situation"
Opposition: "Do They Agree with Pro-Japanese Historical Views and Even Revising the Peace Constitution?"

Excerpt from Jeong Jin-seok, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, Facebook post.

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Yunjin Kim] On the 11th, Jeong Jin-seok, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, sparked controversy by refuting criticism that the South Korea-U.S.-Japan joint military exercises are "pro-Japanese defense," stating that "Japan never went to war with the Joseon Dynasty." Chairman Jeong explained that he was pointing out Joseon's weak national power, but opposition parties launched fierce attacks, calling it a "shallow pro-Japanese historical perception."

On the 11th, Chairman Jeong said on his Facebook, "Lee Jae-myung's theory of Japanese troops stationed in Korea is, along with Moon Jae-in's 'Kim Jong-un denuclearization promise theory,' one of the two major falsehoods and lies that harm the security of the Republic of Korea."

This remark appeared in the process of refuting Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, who criticized the trilateral joint military exercises by South Korea, the U.S., and Japan in the East Sea as an "unforgivable defense disaster and self-harm to national security." Lee held a YouTube live broadcast the day before, condemning the exercise as an act of recognizing the Japan Self-Defense Forces as a formal military and said, "I cannot imagine the day when the Japanese military enters the Korean Peninsula and the Rising Sun flag is raised again on the Korean Peninsula, but such a thing could actually happen."

In response to Lee's remarks, Chairman Jeong claimed, "Joseon was rotten and decayed from within, and that is why it fell. Japan never went to war with the Joseon Dynasty." He added, "Joseon had no power to protect itself. That was the situation at the end of the Joseon Dynasty," and warned, "I hope people do not mislead the public with frivolous historical perceptions." He argued that Lee's claim, which cited the late Joseon period to mention 'Japanese troop stationing,' was incorrect, and that this exercise is an important decision made by the military power Republic of Korea for national security, unlike Joseon.

However, opposition parties are launching offensives, calling it a distorted historical perception that denies Japan's responsibility during the colonial period. Park Hong-geun, floor leader of the Democratic Party, said at an emergency security meeting that day, "It is a shallow pro-Japanese historical perception that makes one doubt their ears and an unprecedented outrageous remark as the leader of the ruling party," and warned, "I am concerned that this might lead to supporting Japan's remilitarization through constitutional revision and the South Korea-U.S.-Japan military alliance." Oh Young-hwan, floor spokesperson, sharply criticized, saying, "It is typical colonialist language that Japan used as justification when invading Joseon."

Critical voices also emerged within the ruling party. Kim Woong, a member of the People Power Party, pointed out on his Facebook, "This is a typical perpetrator's logic. Goguryeo also had internal strife, so did it fall because of Tang Dynasty's invasion?" Former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min also criticized, "This is a shallow remark falling into Lee Jae-myung's trap. Why did the Imjin War and the Jeongyu War occur?" and fiercely demanded, "He should immediately apologize to the public for this outrageous remark and resign from the Emergency Response Committee Chairman position."

As the controversy continued, Chairman Jeong posted a clarifying statement on his Facebook that afternoon, saying, "Do not distort or mislead the truth." He rebutted, "It means that we lost the country without even fighting a war or using power. I am the person who feels the cruel massacres and invasions of Japanese imperialism most deeply." He added, "The Joseon state community was seriously ill and powerless, and thus tasted the sorrow of national ruin. Because I said this, I am being attacked as a person with pro-Japanese and colonialist views," emphasizing that the essence of his commentary lies in the seriousness of responding to the North Korean nuclear threat.

However, even among experts, there are criticisms that Chairman Jeong should have been more cautious with his remarks. The statement implying "there was no military invasion" contradicts factual evidence, and the argument that the biggest cause of Korea's annexation was internal problems within Joseon and the Korean Empire is difficult to persuade the majority of the public.

Assistant Professor Yoo Bada of Korea University’s Department of Korean History pointed out, "There are many factors that influenced colonization, and some scholars view the Korean Empire's status as a weak country and internal government problems as causes. However, it is clear that Japan's militaristic and imperialist expansionist policies, which actually occupied the weak country, bear greater responsibility." She added, "While various claims can be made in academia, responsible remarks considering the majority opinion of academia and public sentiment are required."

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