Gwangju Civic Group Condemns Yoon's Statement "Japan Does Not Need to Kneel"

A civic group in the Gwangju area strongly criticized President Yoon Suk-yeol's remark that "it is hard to accept the idea that Japan should kneel because of something that happened 100 years ago," calling it "the most outrageous remark more fitting for the Japanese Prime Minister."

In an interview with the American daily The Washington Post on the 24th, President Yoon said, "Europe has experienced several wars over the past 100 years but found ways for the parties involved in the wars to cooperate for the future," adding, "I cannot accept the idea that there are things that can never be done because of events that happened 100 years ago, or that Japan should kneel because of history from 100 years ago."

The Forced Mobilization Civic Group issued a statement on the 25th condemning, "President Yoon has no intention of demanding further apologies from Japan and justified himself to the citizens opposing the 'self-compensation' plan, in which Korea would bear the compensation responsibility of Japanese defendant companies, by saying, 'Some critical people may not accept his decision.'

They continued, "Is he speaking without knowing the attitude taken by Germany, a fellow former aggressor nation after the war, and the attitude Japan, also a former aggressor nation, has taken?" and argued, "Victims are very much alive and watching closely, but does President Yoon think this is just outdated whining?"

They also emphasized, "Even when fighting with all their might is not enough, the president is saying, 'We should no longer demand apologies from Japan,' so what would Japan be worried about or afraid of?" and stressed, "Is it really so excessive and uncomfortable to respect the rulings of the Korean Supreme Court, apologize to the victims, and implement the rulings?"

Meanwhile, President Yoon arrived in the United States on the 24th (local time) and is conducting a 5-night, 7-day state visit to mark the 70th anniversary of the South Korea-U.S. alliance.

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