'June Return' Lee Nak-yeon: "Yoon Government's Japan Diplomacy Brings Disappointment to the People... A Heavy Burden Ahead"

"The next government has been burdened with a heavy load, and the people have been left disappointed." Former Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon, about a month before his return to Korea, criticized the Yoon Seok-yeol administration's overall diplomatic strategy, including its diplomacy toward Japan, as heading down the wrong path.

On the 25th (local time), during a luncheon meeting with New York correspondents held in New Jersey, USA, former Prime Minister Lee stated that the Yoon administration's diplomacy toward Japan, including the recent third-party compensation solution for forced labor victims during the Japanese colonial period, was achieved through Korea's unilateral concessions.

Known as a "pro-Japan politician," he said, "If the next government reverses this stance, it may appear as a country without credibility," adding, "Since this approach lacks the support of the people, it is unsustainable, but reversing it would cause issues with international image and trust. It places a heavy burden on the next government." He continued, "The second problem is the disappointment of the people," pointing out, "It made it seem as if demanding an apology from Japan was wrong. It is an approach that proceeds regardless of public support."

Former Prime Minister Lee criticized, "Although compromises between Korea and Japan always come with regrets, this time it was all accepted in a 'I'll handle everything' manner (toward Japan's claims)," calling it "wrong." When asked about the practical benefits of this, he retorted, "Japan's praise," and added that diplomacy should not be conducted in this way.

Having spent the past year as a visiting researcher at George Washington University studying peace on the Korean Peninsula and US-China strategic competition, former Prime Minister Lee predicted that US-China relations will not ease in the future. Regarding the recent intensification of US-China conflicts centered on semiconductors, which has put Korea in a "caught shrimp" situation, he argued that "Korea must also raise its voice as an ally to the US." While emphasizing the alliance with the US from a security perspective, he explained the need to persuade that there are areas, such as the economy, where cooperation with China is necessary.

In particular, former Prime Minister Lee pointed out that "the essence of diplomacy is to give what you must and receive what you should," criticizing the Yoon administration for engaging in one-sided, give-away diplomacy toward the US. This was interpreted as a remark that the expected practical gains from the recent state visit to the US were absent. He also expressed concern that China is being excessively provoked in this process. Furthermore, he emphasized the need to reduce dependence on China in relations with it.

Introducing the White House National Security Strategy report that stated the post-Cold War era, which began with the dissolution of the former Soviet Union in 1991, has ended, former Prime Minister Lee diagnosed, "During the post-Cold War era, South Korea achieved economic growth, but that era is now over, and it is time to consider survival." This is also the background for his book titled 'South Korea's Survival Strategy,' which summarizes the results of his reflections and studies over the past year as a visiting researcher. The book covers South Korea's characteristics in foreign relations, prospects of US-China competition, the path to peace on the Korean Peninsula concerning North Korea's nuclear threat, US-China strategic competition, his diplomatic experiences during his tenure as prime minister, and finally presents the mid-to-long-term vision for Korean diplomacy called the 'Soft Power Strong Nation New Diplomacy' concept.

On this day, former Prime Minister Lee refrained from commenting on his political activities after returning to Korea. Regarding factional conflicts within the Democratic Party, he responded, "I will leave internal party matters to those in Yeouido and focus on national issues." He is scheduled to leave the US in early next month to give lectures at institutions including the Free University of Berlin in Germany. He plans to return to Korea later that same month.

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