Japanese Media Highlights "Acting President Choi Made No Historical Issue Criticism on March 1st Movement Day"

by Lee Sungmin

Published 01 Mar.2025 15:53(KST)

"Following President Yoon's Japan Policy"

Japanese media on the 1st focused on the fact that Choi Sang-mok, Acting President and Deputy Prime Minister as well as Minister of Economy and Finance, refrained from criticizing Japan and emphasized unity in his March 1st Independence Movement Day commemorative speech.

Acting President and Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok, who is also the Minister of Economy and Finance, is delivering the 106th March 1st Movement Anniversary speech at Soongui Women's University in Jung-gu, Seoul, on the 1st. Photo by Yonhap News

Kyodo News reported, "Acting President Choi did not criticize Japan over historical issues, unlike President Yoon's previous speeches."

It further introduced that Acting President Choi expressed hope that the two countries' relations would develop to a new stage by healing the "wounds of the past" on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of Korea-Japan normalization of diplomatic relations.

Kyodo added that amid escalating confrontations ahead of the ruling on President Yoon's impeachment trial, Acting President Choi pointed out the need to overcome division by following the "spirit of unity" of the independence movement.

The Asahi Shimbun also evaluated, "Acting President Choi argued that 'cooperation between Korea and Japan is absolutely necessary' to effectively respond to the severe international situation," and noted that he consistently conveyed a friendly message by following President Yoon's Japan policy.

The Sankei Shimbun reported that Acting President Choi did not blame Japan over historical issues and expressed concern that "if President Yoon is removed from office through the impeachment trial and the administration changes, the trend toward strengthening relations may retreat."

Japanese media had previously paid attention to the fact that President Yoon did not mention historical issues in his March 1st commemorative speeches in 2023 and last year, instead highlighting a cooperative Korea-Japan relationship toward the future.