Kishida-Meets Korea-Japan Parliamentary League... Jeong Jin-seok Hopes for 'Neighborly Friendship' vs Yoon Ho-jung's Sharp Critique

Differences in Ruling and Opposition Views on Past Affairs and Fukushima Contaminated Water
Lee Jae-myung: "We Must Engage in Confident National Interest Diplomacy"

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who is visiting South Korea for a 1-night, 2-day schedule for the Korea-Japan summit, met with ruling and opposition lawmakers belonging to the Korea-Japan Parliamentary League for about 50 minutes on the 8th. Chung Jin-seok, chairman of the league and a member of the People Power Party, expressed expectations for improvement in Korea-Japan relations, saying, "We will be able to move forward with a friendly neighborly relationship," while Yoon Ho-jung, secretary-general of the Democratic Party of Korea, emphasized the need for efforts by the two countries' leaders regarding historical distortion, security cooperation, and the Fukushima nuclear wastewater issue, delivering the public's concerns and requests on behalf of the opposition party without reservation.

During the meeting with Prime Minister Kishida held at Lotte Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul, that morning, Representative Chung offered the word "Seonrinwooho," meaning "to live well and be on good terms with neighbors," as a compliment.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

After the meeting with Prime Minister Kishida, Representative Chung told reporters, "A favorable wind is blowing in Korea-Japan relations after one year of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration," adding, "I conveyed that there is no doubt about the development of bilateral relations." He continued, "President Yoon Suk-yeol still has four years left in his term, and if the Kishida administration strengthens exchanges and cooperation between the two countries while accumulating experience amid recovery and stability, the bilateral relationship can truly advance as a progressive friendly neighborly relationship." Regarding Prime Minister Kishida's declaration during this visit to inherit the Kim Dae-jung-Obuchi Declaration and his personal expression of regret by saying 'My heart aches over the sad events,' Representative Chung said, "I conveyed that Kishida's warm message to the victims of forced labor was also very impressive."

However, Democratic Party lawmaker Yoon Ho-jung clearly expressed the opposition party's critical stance, evaluating this Korea-Japan summit as "diplomacy of submission." He is known to have openly made pointed remarks especially on past historical issues and the Fukushima contaminated water discharge plan.

After the meeting, Representative Yoon also told reporters, "I wanted to convey the thoughts and opinions of our people and the opposition party to Prime Minister Kishida without any reservation."

Representative Yoon said, "First, I reminded him of Foreign Minister Kishida's stance during the 2015 Abe statement, when despite Abe's assertion that Japan would no longer apologize, Kishida persuaded Abe that reflection and apology for past history are necessary. I conveyed that efforts by the two leaders to face history squarely in accordance with the spirit of the Kim Dae-jung-Obuchi Declaration are needed." Regarding 'security cooperation,' he pointed out contradictions in including conflict issues between the two countries in security documents and requested consideration of revising the security documents for smooth security cooperation. Representative Yoon also said, "I conveyed the concerns of the Korean people about the Fukushima nuclear wastewater," adding, "I requested that various alternatives besides ocean discharge be considered."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Originally, in addition to the two lawmakers, Kim Seok-ki, vice chairman of the league and member of the People Power Party, and standing secretaries Sung Il-jong of the People Power Party and Kim Han-jung of the Democratic Party were also invited, but during coordination, it was decided that only Representatives Chung and Yoon would attend.

On the same day, the Democratic Party continued its critical evaluation of the Korea-Japan summit. Party leader Lee Jae-myung said at the morning supreme council meeting, "Once again, it was the Yoon Suk-yeol administration that filled the empty glass at this Korea-Japan summit," criticizing, "They simply followed Japan's tacit demand to 'fill only your own glass'." Lee emphasized, "Normalization of Korea-Japan relations is necessary and I agree with it, but national interests, national dignity, and historical justice should not be sacrificed." He added, "The government boasts of this summit as a 'restoration of shuttle diplomacy,' but it should listen to the self-deprecating criticism calling it 'bread shuttle diplomacy,' and urged, 'Please engage in dignified national interest diplomacy.'"

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