Yoon's Liberation Day Speech Criticized by Opposition as "Surrender Day"... Even Ruling Party Questions "Is This a Liberation Day Address?"

President Yoon Suk-yeol emphasized trilateral cooperation among South Korea, the United States, and Japan in his Liberation Day speech the previous day, referring to Japan as "a partner sharing universal values with us and pursuing common interests." Opposition party figures criticized this as a "Day of Surrender," while voices of criticism also emerged within the ruling party, questioning whether it was appropriate for a Liberation Day speech.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Jang Kyung-tae, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, said on SBS's 'Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show', "It felt more like a Day of Surrender than Liberation Day," adding, "There are many issues such as the Dokdo territorial dispute and the registration of Hashima Island as a World Cultural Heritage site, but none of these were mentioned. Instead, the importance of trilateral cooperation among South Korea, the U.S., and Japan was emphasized."

The day before, President Yoon stated in his Liberation Day speech, "South Korea and Japan, as partners in security and economic cooperation, can work together in a future-oriented manner and contribute jointly to world peace and prosperity." However, controversy arose because the speech did not mention Japan's past wrongdoings and focused solely on cooperation. On the same day, Japanese Prime Minister Kishida drew public outrage by continuing to offer sacrifices at the Yasukuni Shrine.

Jang said, "I thought August 15 was the day of Japan's defeat," adding, "Prime Minister Kishida continues to offer tributes at the Yasukuni Shrine, and over 70 members of the Liberal Democratic Party, including Chairman Hagiura, visit the shrine. Aren't there many historical consciousness issues and other problems with Japan that only we are concerned about?"

Kwon Chil-seung, spokesperson for the Democratic Party, said, "Watching the president talk about free solidarity and strengthening trilateral security cooperation without any sense of concern about rising tensions in Northeast Asia is worrisome," adding, "What exactly are the values we share with Japan, and what are the common interests? What national interests have we gained from Japan under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration?"

Criticism also came from within the ruling party. Former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min, a presidential hopeful, said, "Cooperating with Japan for our national interests in security and economy is necessary. However, today is no ordinary day; it is Liberation Day," pointing out, "It is the day our nation was freed from 35 years of Japanese colonial rule, which involved the theft of sovereignty, oppression, and atrocities."

He added, "We must not erase the memory of how painfully our ancestors suffered and how barbaric the Japanese oppression was. The president did not mention history even once on Liberation Day," and said, "If the speech had not been titled 'Liberation Day Commemorative Address,' it would have been hard to tell if it was a Liberation Day speech at all."

Lee Jun-seok, former leader of the People Power Party, said on YTN's 'News King with Park Ji-hoon,' "I understand that the Yoon administration’s main policy line has been a friendly approach toward Japan, but I think the message delivered on Liberation Day was excessively focused on Japan."

Cheon Ha-ram, head of the People Power Party's Suncheon Gap district committee, criticized on CBS's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show,' "Not demanding any apology or reflection on the past this time actually harms a future-oriented relationship with Japan," adding, "They might have decided to avoid uncomfortable topics for Japan and focus on a future-oriented tone, but this is hard for our people to accept."

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