"Japanese Minister to Return Half of 3 Months' Salary... Takes Responsibility for Resident Registration System Disruption"

Digital Minister Taro Kono Admits Work Negligence
Cabinet Approval Rating Drops Amid 'My Number Card' Confusion

Taro Kono, Japan's Digital Minister, who was embroiled in controversy for diplomatic impropriety toward Korea during his tenure as Foreign Minister, has attracted attention by voluntarily returning three months' worth of his salary.

According to the Tokyo Shimbun and other sources on the 16th, Digital Minister Kono held a press conference the previous day and stated, regarding the recent confusion caused during the promotion of the "My Number Card" (Japan's version of the resident registration system), "As the head of the responsible ministry, I believe I must take clear responsibility," announcing his decision.

Taro Kono, Japan's Minister of Digital Affairs. [Image source=Yonhap News]

The My Number Card has been promoted in Japan to realize an electronic government. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Japan's vulnerabilities in information and communication technology (IT), such as administrative delays, were widely exposed. In response, the Digital Agency was launched in 2021 under the Suga Yoshihide Cabinet as part of digital reform.

Rejoining the Cabinet last year, Digital Minister Kono pushed forward the integration of the My Number Card with medical insurance cards to expand its distribution. However, errors such as incorrect linkage between the My Number Card and subsidy receiving accounts occurred repeatedly, increasing public dissatisfaction.

As a result, the My Number Card is seen as hindering the Kishida Fumio Cabinet. According to a Jiji Press opinion poll on the 7th, the Kishida Cabinet's approval rating was 26.6%, close to the all-time low of 26.5% recorded in January during its tenure. The Liberal Democratic Party's support also plummeted to 21.1%, marking the lowest point since the Kishida Cabinet's inception.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. [Image source=Yonhap News]

As the My Number Card controversy continues, Prime Minister Kishida has been bowing his head every month since June. On the 4th, he apologized at a press conference, saying, "We caused anxiety among the people." Digital Minister Kono's recent decision to return his salary is understood in the same context. However, he clearly stated that he will not resign, saying, "I will continue to devote myself to the duties entrusted to me."

Nevertheless, some speculate that Digital Minister Kono could be replaced in the cabinet reshuffle scheduled for September. It is reported that Prime Minister Kishida is planning a reshuffle and personnel changes within the party around mid-September as part of renewal efforts.

Meanwhile, Digital Minister Kono is a representative hereditary politician in Japan. His father, Yohei Kono, former Chief Cabinet Secretary, is famous for the "Kono Statement," which in 1993 was the first acknowledgment by the Japanese government of involvement in the issue of Japanese military comfort women.

During his tenure as Foreign Minister in 2019, Digital Minister Kono showed diplomatic impropriety by interrupting and reprimanding Nam Gwan-pyo, former South Korean Ambassador to Japan, calling him "rude" during a meeting concerning the South Korean Supreme Court's ruling on forced labor compensation.

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