President Yoon Says that South Korea Needs to Move Relations Forward With Japan Just Like Europe Did After World War II
President Yoon reasons for pushing forward cooperation with Japan for security reasons make perfect sense considering the hostile neighbors South Korea is surrounded by. Why not make friends with the one neighbor that doesn’t want to destroy or subjugate your country?:
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol (R), alongside first lady Kim Keon Hee, waves at Seoul Air Base in Seongnam, south of Seoul, on April 24, 2023, as he embarks on a six-day state visit to the United States. (Yonhap)
President Yoon Suk Yeol reaffirmed his commitment to moving relations with Japan forward, saying in an interview published Monday that he cannot accept the notion Japan “must kneel because of our history 100 years ago.”
Yoon made the remark in an interview with The Washington Post, referring to Japan’s 1910-45 colonial rule of Korea during which a series of atrocities were committed, such as mobilization of Koreans as sex slaves and for forced labor.
“Europe has experienced several wars for the past 100 years and despite that, warring countries have found ways to cooperate for the future,” Yoon was quoted as saying during the interview.
“I can’t accept the notion that because of what happened 100 years ago, something is absolutely impossible (to do) and that they (Japanese) must kneel (for forgiveness) because of our history 100 years ago. And this is an issue that requires decision. … In terms of persuasion, I believe I did my best,” he said.
Yoon also said South Korea’s security concerns were too urgent to delay cooperation with Tokyo, though some critics would never be convinced.
Yonhap
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Precisely, GI…
And all the static and flack is coming from known collaborators with Beijing and Pyongyang.
Germany doesn’t constantly rewrite their textbooks saying there were no slave laborers in Nazi Germany. Germany doesn’t push the state-funded lie to their children that Germany didn’t invade other countries and subjugated their neighbors. Germany doesn’t keep on making territorial claims in Poland, France, or the Czech Republic. Germany doesn’t set up Nazi shrines and has their leaders constantly go there to honor their Nazi war crimes as if it’s an integral part of their culture and identity. Japan is no Germany, what are you kidding me? A hundred years ago? Not really. There are still many people who are still surviving who remember who made them suffer.
So puhleese, don’t bring the Europeans into this, and shut the f-ck up.
Yoon has basically capitulated and has given everything Japan has demanded. But what has Japan done to reciprocate, other than showing their increased smugness and waves of laughter in Tokyo? GI Korea, can you and Yoon, answer that question?
KM has a point there.
Germany’s acceptance and assumption of responsibilities for its wrongdoings during WW2 is a contrast to how Japan now handles its not so stellar behavior during WW2.
Germany’s post war behavior may the big reason why other European countries do not look at Germany with much suspicion.
So comparing the current situation with Europe is a non starter.
However, that does not mean Kishida or Emperor Naruhito should come to Seoul and kneel in front of the senior citizens that went through the occupation.
The above is unrealistic and too much time have passed.
I will give Yoon credit for putting the ball in Japan’s court, it will be interesting to see how the Japanese will play with it.
If they chose, however, not to play ball, and just throw it back at Yoon’s face, then I’m afraid Yoon will have to contend with the crticism that he gave the Japanese too much, too fast for nothing in return.
“Germany’s post war behavior may the big reason why other European countries do not look at Germany with much suspicion.”
Tell me you don’t know any non-German Europeans without telling me you don’t know any non-German Europeans.
It seems setnaffa’s sockpuppet is bored.