Gwangju Civic Group: "Korea-Japan Talks End Empty-Handed Without Apology"

Civil society groups in the Gwangju region harshly criticized the summit between President Yoon Seok-yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio, calling it a "bare-handed" Korea-Japan summit with "not a single word of apology in the end."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Korea-Japan History Peace and Justice Action and the Forced Mobilization Citizens' Group issued a statement on the 8th, saying, "There was not a single word of apology from Japan at the Korea-Japan summit," and added, "This revealed the reality of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration's hollow diplomacy."

They continued, "The key issue of this summit was whether Japan would show sincere apology and reflection, but it only repeated the existing stance of the Japanese government once again," they claimed.

They further stated, "If Japan truly has a sincere attitude of deep reflection and apology, it should apologize and compensate the victims of forced mobilization as ruled by the Korean Supreme Court against the defendant Japanese companies," emphasizing, "Japan should implement the recognition of responsibility for the military sexual slavery system, official apology, and legal compensation, which the international community has repeatedly recommended."

They also pointed out, "Can a vague expression of regret, where it is unclear who the subject is and who it is directed at, be considered a genuine apology?" and criticized, "It was merely a soulless sympathy sent as if it were someone else's matter."

Earlier, Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio said at the Korea-Japan summit the day before, "I am deeply saddened by the fact that many people had to work under harsh conditions at that time and experienced painful and sad experiences."

A representative of the group appealed, "President Yoon also said on that day, 'It is important to approach the issue of historical awareness with sincerity; it is not a matter where one side can demand from the other,' and in an interview with The Washington Post last month, he made a reckless remark saying, 'I cannot accept the idea that Japan should kneel because of history from 100 years ago.' What is wrong with the victim country demanding an apology from the perpetrator country?"

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