Liberation Day Video Featuring Tokyo Station Sparks Controversy... Ministry Says "Created with AI"

Japanese Railroad Scene Featured in Liberation Day Video
Ministry Makes Video Private Amid Mounting Controversy

Controversy has arisen after it was revealed that a video produced by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Liberation Day included footage of the Shinkansen tracks at Tokyo Station in Japan.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport included footage of Tokyo Station in Japan in a video produced to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Liberation Day, sparking controversy. Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport YouTube

On August 15, the Ministry uploaded a 1-minute 56-second video titled "120 Years of Railroads: Running Together with the Liberation Reclaimed by the People" to mark the 80th anniversary of Liberation Day. While the video features the phrase, "Korean railroads carry the spirit of 80 years of liberation into tomorrow," some viewers claimed that the background in certain scenes was not a Korean railroad, but rather the Shinkansen tracks at Tokyo Station. Others pointed out that, when the video is zoomed in, vehicles can be seen driving on the left side of the road instead of the right, which is characteristic of Japan, not Korea.

As the controversy grew, the Ministry made the video private without any further explanation. However, criticism persisted even after the video was taken down. In various online communities and in the comments section of the Ministry's YouTube channel, users posted remarks such as, "How could they use footage of Japanese railroads in a video commemorating Liberation Day? Are they out of their minds?" and "Did they upload this without even reviewing it?" Some viewers also expressed disappointment that there was no apology, and called for accountability, saying, "It's even more disappointing that there hasn't been a single apology," and "Those responsible should be held accountable."

An official from the Ministry explained to some media outlets, "The video was produced internally using artificial intelligence (AI), and we immediately deleted it when the controversy arose," adding, "It appears that we missed the issue during the final review because we only glanced at it."

This is not the first time a similar controversy has occurred. In 2022, the National Railroad Authority faced criticism for using a photo of the Japanese Shinkansen alongside the Mugunghwa flower in a Liberation Day commemorative card news post. At the time, the Authority issued an apology, stating, "There is no excuse for an official agency to use an inappropriate photo and cause discomfort."

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