Why Lee Jae-myung's Continuous 'Pro-Japanese Defense' Offensive?... Escalating Conflict Between Ruling and Opposition Parties

Lee's Korea-US-Japan Joint Exercise 'Pro-Japan Defense' Hardline Mode Sparks Controversy Over Jeong Jin-seok's "No Joseon-Japan War" Remarks
"Opposition Aims to Rally Supporters" "Jeong's Definitive Statement Inappropriate"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Jin Jeong-seok, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party. / Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] The ruling and opposition parties are engaged in an unexpected 'color politics' debate over the South Korea-U.S.-Japan joint military exercises. Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, launched a 'pro-Japanese' offensive, calling it "an act of recognizing the Japan Self-Defense Forces as a military," while the People Power Party countered with a 'pro-North' offensive, asking, "Is it okay for the Rising Sun flag to be raised in Seoul?" Amid this, Jeong Jin-seok, the emergency committee chairman of the People Power Party, sparked controversy by stating, "Japan never went to war with the Joseon Dynasty."

The debate began with the recent South Korea-U.S.-Japan joint exercises conducted in international waters of the East Sea. Regarding this, Lee strongly criticized on the 7th, calling it "extreme pro-Japanese defense following humiliating diplomacy," and on the 10th warned, "There may come a day when the Self-Defense Forces, which our people cannot tolerate, infiltrate the Korean Peninsula, and the Rising Sun flag is raised again on the Korean Peninsula."

The People Power Party immediately rebutted, calling it "provoking anti-Japanese conflict" and "extreme pro-North acts." In a Facebook post, Emergency Committee Chairman Jeong questioned, "Knowing full well that this is a military exercise against North Korea's armed provocations, yet unable to say a word to Kim Jong-un, what is the intention behind nitpicking the 'Freedom Alliance's military exercises?" Policy Committee Chairman Seong Il-jong said, "Is it acceptable for the Rising Sun flag to be raised on the Korean Peninsula? What we should be wary of now is not extreme pro-Japanese sentiment but extreme pro-North sentiment."

Meanwhile, Chairman Jeong's remark that "Japan never went to war with Joseon" turned the pro-Japanese controversy into a 'colonial historical view' controversy. Chairman Jeong claimed, "Why did Joseon fall? Did it fall due to Japanese military invasion? Joseon decayed and rotted from within, and that is why it fell. Japan never went to war with the Joseon Dynasty." Although criticism arose from both opposition and ruling parties that his remarks were inappropriate, Chairman Jeong did not retract his statement, saying, "(Joseon) lost its country without even fighting a war or using its strength," and "I am being attacked as a pro-Japanese person with a colonial historical view for making such remarks. They distort and mislead the essence of the commentary."

As the opposition's pro-Japanese offensive met the ruling party's pro-North offensive, the confrontation between the two parties is turning into a mudslinging fight. At the Supreme Council meeting on the 12th, Lee Jae-myung continued his offensive, saying, "(Japan) insists that Dokdo is its territory and not only carries out military provocations but also economic invasions," and "There should be serious reflection and reconsideration regarding the South Korea-U.S.-Japan joint military exercises."

Some analysts interpret Lee's pro-Japanese offensive as a calculated move. In a situation where security threats are escalating due to North Korea's successive provocations, it is interpreted that the Democratic Party aims to preempt security issues and rally its support base through a pro-Japanese offensive. Recent polls suggest that security concerns have stimulated a rebound in President Yoon Suk-yeol's approval ratings, and Lee's offensive is seen as an attempt to block this opportunity for a rebound in approval ratings.

Jang Sung-chul, director of the Public Opinion Center, said in an interview with CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show,' "(Lee's 'pro-Japanese defense' claim) is intended to consolidate the Democratic Party's support base," adding, "The pro-Japanese frame has been continuously used like a trump card by the Democratic camp to attack conservative right-wing governments. This is a continuation of that."

However, there are also criticisms that the ruling party's response to the opposition's offensive has caused controversy. Professor Lee Jun-han of the Department of Political Science and Diplomacy at Incheon National University pointed out, "The South Korea-U.S.-Japan military exercises have both positive and negative aspects. Instead of saying 'it must be done' or 'it must not be done,' since it has been carried out, discussions and responses to the various issues that may arise afterward are necessary," and added, "Chairman Jeong's categorical statement that 'Japan never went to war' should be avoided considering his status as the ruling party leader and the National Assembly vice speaker."

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