Former Osaka Consul General: "Yoon's Rengatei Invitation Also Linked to 'Sikgeunron'"

"Omurice, a Symbolic Dish of Japan's Modernization"

President Yoon Suk-yeol and First Lady Kim Keon-hee, visiting Japan for a 2-day, 1-night trip, arrived at Seongnam Seoul Airport on the morning of the 16th and are heading to Air Force One.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Former Consul General to Osaka Oh Tae-gyu criticized the selection of the Western-style restaurant 'Rengatei' as the venue for the second dinner during President Yoon Suk-yeol's recent visit to Japan, saying it was not appropriate for the formality of a summit meeting.

In an interview on the 16th with the YouTube channel 'Kim Eo-jun's Humility is Difficult News Factory,' former Consul General Oh said, "They say President Yoon chose the dinner venue because he wanted to, but I think personal taste and protocol as a head of state should be strictly distinguished," adding, "It would be better to avoid such choices (for the dinner venue)."

According to a report by Japan's Yomiuri Shimbun, President Yoon and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida had their first meal at a restaurant in Ginza, Tokyo, and then moved to Rengatei to continue their conversation. The venue was reportedly chosen considering President Yoon's preference for omurice.

Some have interpreted the choice of omurice and tonkatsu served at Rengatei?foods symbolizing Japan's modernization?as conveying a message aligned with the 'colonial modernization theory.' Regarding this, former Consul General Oh stated, "I believe it can certainly be interpreted that way."

He pointed out, "Protocol involves creating various narratives. Eating tonkatsu and omurice, symbols of Japan's modernization, naturally connects to Japan's claim that 'Korea was modernized through colonization.'"

Explaining why such interpretations arise, former Consul General Oh said, "It is because the solution to forced labor compensation was announced in a humiliating and disgraceful manner," adding that this "provided the pretext for such interpretations."

He further remarked, "If the solution had been one that preserved our dignity while obtaining Japan's apology and compensation, going there itself would not have been a big issue, but due to the repercussions of this government's forced labor solution, such interpretations are emerging."

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