Lee Gaeho Attends Nagasaki "Atomic Bomb" Memorial Ceremony for Korean Victims

Commemorating the Spirits of 20,000 Victims on the 8th
Korea-Japan Parliamentary Friendship Association Visits Japan
Urging the Japanese Government for Correct Historical Awareness and Apology
Meeting with Korean Residents to Improve Rights and Interests

Lee Gaeho of the Democratic Party of Korea, along with Joo Hoyoung and Yoo Youngha of the People Power Party, and Lee Jaegang of the Democratic Party of Korea, are seen attending the "Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Korean Victims Memorial Ceremony" on the 8th and touring the memorial hall. Photo provided by Lee Gaeho's office

Lee Gaeho, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea representing Damyang, Hampyeong, Yeonggwang, and Jangseong in South Jeolla Province, attended the "Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Korean Victims Memorial Ceremony" in Japan on August 8, marking the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing. This followed his visit to India as a presidential envoy on July 16. During the ceremony, he honored and paid tribute to the Korean victims.

The memorial ceremony was attended by bereaved families of atomic bomb victims, representatives of the local Korean Residents Union in Japan (Mindan), and Yamada Katsuhiko, a member of the House of Representatives. The participants shared a consensus on the need for a correct historical understanding of past issues between Korea and Japan, and agreed that sincere actions from the Japanese government are necessary to resolve these issues.

This visit, organized by the Korea-Japan Parliamentary Friendship Association, took place over three days from August 6 to 8. Its purpose was to commemorate the more than 20,000 Koreans who were forcibly conscripted and lost their lives, and to urge the Japanese government to adopt a correct historical perspective and offer a genuine apology. Lee was accompanied by Joo Hoyoung and Yoo Youngha of the People Power Party, as well as Lee Jaegang of the Democratic Party of Korea.

As vice president of the Korea-Japan Parliamentary Friendship Association, Lee attended a special meeting hosted by Korean residents in Osaka and Nagasaki during his visit, where he engaged in in-depth discussions on ways to protect the rights and interests of Koreans residing in Japan.

Lee has consistently made active efforts to redefine historical issues between Korea and Japan and to establish a correct understanding of history. For example, during the Park Geun-hye administration, he strongly opposed efforts to designate August 15, 1948, as the founding day of the nation and to include this in government textbooks, which would have denied the legitimacy of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea. He introduced a bill on the "National Foundation Day Act" to recognize April 11, 1919, as the founding day of the Republic of Korea and published related materials.

Lee also strongly criticized the Cultural Heritage Administration for attempting to apply for the inscription of the Gaya Tumuli as a UNESCO World Heritage site based on distorted records from the Nihon Shoki. He raised issues in the National Assembly regarding the publication of "One Thousand Years of Jeolla Province," which was criticized for its pro-Japanese colonial perspective and historical distortions, thereby sparking public debate that led to revisions and even calls for its withdrawal.

Lee stated, "This visit was organized to honor the spirits of the Korean victims of the Nagasaki atomic bombing and to urge the Japanese government to adopt a correct historical understanding and offer a genuine apology." He added, "I hope this will serve as an opportunity to broaden mutual understanding and seek a future-oriented relationship by healing the historical wounds between the two countries."

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