◀ Anchor ▶
The government has said that it is not a good idea to accept a new apology from Japan in the future.
At the same time, he said that this solution was the last chance to go to the future, but on the contrary, there are criticisms that he has blocked the opportunity to solve the historical problem in the future.
In a situation where the facts of new war crimes by Japan may be revealed in the future, it is not even possible to block the possibility of receiving an apology.
Next is Reporter Hong Eui-pyo.
◀ Report ▶
When we were asked if we had made too many concessions without Japan making reparations or a new apology, the government responded as follows.
[박진/외교부 장관]
“I don’t think it’s a good idea to accept a new apology from Japan for the past.”
At the same time, he said, “It is important to consistently and faithfully implement the current apology statement,” which Japan has expressed as “grave regret.”
However, it is noted that the government’s position is similar to the logic of Prime Minister Abe’s statement in the past that “there is no more apology”.
It can also be linked to Japan’s right-wing claim that “Japan has already apologized enough, so South Korea continues to insist that an apology is a problem.”
[아베 신조/일본 총리(지난 2015년)]
“I don’t think future generations should write off the fate of continuing to apologise.”
Victims of forced labor are in the position of never having received an apology from Japan in the first place, but the government has more or less accepted Japan’s position that the current apology is sufficient.
The view that there is no need for a ‘new apology’ can be used for Japan’s rationale for not disclosing the history of forced removal in places such as Battleship Island and Sado Mine.
In particular, there are criticisms that if Japan’s war crimes, which have not yet been revealed, are revealed, the way to make Japan apologize for its mistakes will be blocked.
[장우순/광복회 학술연구원 연구위원]
″(Additional damage causes) can come out of course. We haven’t fully identified the things that have been transferred, the damage that we have, or these things, really.”
The issue of “comfort women for the Japanese army” was also covered up even after being released, and in 1991, after Kim Hak-soon’s testimony, an apology was demanded.
In addition, there are concerns that the fact that Korean companies, particularly beneficiaries of the Korea-Japan Claims Settlement Agreement, have come forward to make reparations, giving strength to Japan’s claim that “the reparations issue has all been resolved through the Agreement Settlement of Claims.”
This is Hong Eui-pyo from MBC News.
Video commentary: Kim Kyung-bae Lim Ji-soo / Video editing: Lee Hwa-young
Graphics: Baek Jiyeon
