Japanese Media React Positively to Yoon's Liberation Day Speech Highlighting 'Partner' Without Mentioning History

Majority of Media Comment on "Unprecedented Congratulatory Speech"
"Distinct Difference from Previous Presidents"

Japanese media have described President Yoon Suk-yeol's remarks on August 15th at the 78th Liberation Day celebration, in which he referred to Japan as a partner without mentioning historical issues such as comfort women, as "unprecedented."

On the 16th, the Asahi Shimbun editorial titled "Efforts to prevent setbacks in Japan-South Korea relations" reported, "In his Liberation Day speech celebrating liberation from Japan's colonial rule, President Yoon called Japan a 'partner sharing universal values' and stated his intention to strengthen cooperation in security and economic areas," adding, "We expect that this time the efforts to improve Japan-South Korea relations are finally on track."

On the 16th, the Yomiuri Shimbun published an article titled "No Mention of Historical Issues by President Yoon," evaluating President Yoon Seok-yeol's Liberation Day address by stating, "There was no mention of former forced laborers (the Japanese term for Korean forced laborers during Japanese occupation) or comfort women and other historical issues, marking a clear difference from previous presidents' Liberation Day speeches that appealed to Japan's responsibility."
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Additionally, the Asahi Shimbun published a separate article stating, "President Yoon showed enthusiasm to further develop relations by referring to Japan as a partner sharing universal values and pursuing common interests, without critical remarks as in last year."

The Yomiuri Shimbun also, in an article titled "No mention of historical issues by President Yoon," evaluated the president's congratulatory speech by noting, "There was no mention of historical issues such as former forced laborers (the Japanese term for Koreans forcibly mobilized during Japanese rule) or comfort women, marking a clear difference from previous presidents' Liberation Day speeches that appealed to Japan's responsibility."

It further analyzed, "Regarding Japan, he emphasized partnership by calling it a partner sharing universal values and pursuing common interests."

Mainichi Shimbun also introduced an evaluation through an article titled "Unusually No Criticism of Japan," describing it as an unprecedented speech with no criticism of Japan on historical issues. It assessed that "considering that Korea-Japan relations are returning to a normal track, a future-oriented relationship as security and economic cooperation partners was prominently presented."
[Photo by Mainichi Shimbun]

The Nihon Keizai Shimbun analyzed, "In his speech on the 15th, President Yoon showed awareness that Japanese bases (seven rear bases provided to the UN Command) are important for his country's security," adding, "It is unprecedented to emphasize security cooperation with Japan without mentioning historical issues on Liberation Day, which commemorates liberation from Japanese colonial rule."

It also noted, "August 15, the day Japan surrendered in the Pacific War, is the day Korea was liberated from Japanese colonial rule, and previous (South Korean) presidents, including conservative Presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye, made historical issues with Japan the main theme of their speeches."

The Mainichi Shimbun, in an article titled "Unprecedented absence of criticism of Japan," introduced evaluations that the speech was unprecedented in lacking any criticism of Japan on historical issues, and assessed, "Considering that Japan-South Korea relations are returning to a normal track, the president put forward a future-oriented relationship as security and economic cooperation partners."

Regarding Yoon's Liberation Day Speech... "Determination to Counter Anti-State Forces vs. Far-Right YouTuber's Monologue"

President Yoon Suk-yeol is delivering a congratulatory speech at the 78th Liberation Day celebration held at Ewha Womans University Auditorium in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul on the 15th.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Regarding President Yoon Suk-yeol's Liberation Day speech, which Japanese media described as "unprecedented," the ruling and opposition parties in South Korea sharply diverged in their evaluations.

On the 15th, the ruling People Power Party praised it as "an expression of determination to firmly respond to anti-state forces threatening liberal democracy," while the Democratic Party harshly criticized it as "a far-right YouTuber's monologue."

Jang Dong-hyuk, the People Power Party floor spokesperson, said in a statement that day, "As president, he expressed determination to firmly respond to anti-state forces threatening liberal democracy."

Addressing the Democratic Party, Jang questioned, "Why do you criticize the government's firm will against anti-state forces blindly following communist totalitarianism, and why do you claim there are no visible anti-state forces? What era are the Democrats living in, and what exactly are they seeing and hearing?"

On the other hand, Kwon Chil-seung, chief spokesperson for the Democratic Party, sharply criticized, "There was no Liberation Day speech from the president today; it was only a monologue like that of a far-right YouTuber or asphalt right-wing."

Kwon added, "I deeply suspect the president is obsessed with far-right YouTuber channels and living in the Yushin dictatorship era," and questioned, "Does he perhaps believe he is lonely in defending the free Republic of Korea against communist and anti-state forces?"

Lee Jae-rang, spokesperson for the Justice Party, also criticized in a statement, "It is contrary to the spirit of Liberation Day, which commemorates national unity and harmony," calling it "a shockingly dreadful speech closer to Nazi Goebbels propaganda than a presidential congratulatory address."

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