LDP Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman: "Japanese Prime Minister Cannot Attend Yoon's Inauguration Ceremony"

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] Within Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, voices have emerged opposing Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's attendance at the inauguration ceremony of President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol next month.

According to Jiji Press and others on the 20th, Masahisa Sato, chairman of the LDP's Foreign Affairs Committee, stated at an intra-party meeting held that day that "the prime minister attending the South Korean president's inauguration is out of the question." Chairman Sato is a former member of the Self-Defense Forces and is known for his strong right-wing stance.

After the meeting, he told reporters that South Korea is violating international law and emphasized the importance of asking the policy consultation team accompanying President-elect Yoon, who will visit Japan starting on the 24th, "what solutions they bring regarding the Korea-Japan historical conflicts," adding, "Even if they meet, it should be at the level of vice foreign minister."

It was reported that his remarks were made on the grounds that Prime Minister Kishida's attendance at the inauguration could send the wrong message concerning Korea-Japan relations. Jiji Press reported that Chairman Sato expressed the view that Prime Minister Kishida should not meet with the policy consultation team.

Earlier, Takeo Kawamura, chairman of the Japan-Korea Friendship Association, after meeting with Prime Minister Kishida the previous day, told reporters that he conveyed to the prime minister that "there was a strong voice (from the Korean side) hoping that the (Japanese) prime minister would definitely attend" the South Korean president's inauguration ceremony.

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