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[Global Network Report] According to Yonhap News Agency, the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded on the 20th to the controversy caused by the recent remarks of a South Korean presidential official that "Japan has apologized dozens of times and is already very tired", saying that South Korea and Japan should work together in the future to overcome historical obstacles and build a future-oriented cooperative relationship. This statement caused dissatisfaction among South Korean netizens, and some netizens criticized, "Why do we have to 'kneel' (to Japan) first?!"

According to the Hankyoreh, Kim Tae-hyo, first director of the National Security Office of South Korea, said on a South Korean TV program on the 16th that "what is important is Japan's intentions" when discussing the historical issues between South Korea and Japan, which attracted public attention. The opposition party strongly criticized this. However, an official from the South Korean presidential office said on the 18th during the process of "cleaning up the situation" that "Japan has apologized dozens of times and is very tired", which once again caused controversy.

South Korean Foreign Ministry spokesman Lee Jae-woong profile picture Source: South Korean media

According to Yonhap News Agency, Lee Jae-woong, spokesman for the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs, made the above statement at a press conference on the 20th. In addition, in response to the question of "whether (the South Korean government) should continue to demand that Japan apologize for the illegality of colonial rule and the damage caused", Lee Jae-woong said, "The government has always been urging Japan to face up to history and humbly reflect on it with the aim of building a good relationship between the two countries in the future."

Yonhap News Agency mentioned that some analysts believe that Lee Jae-woong’s statement can be interpreted as confirming the principled position of South Korea and Japan to continue to cooperate in "establishing correct historical cognition and building a future-oriented relationship."

After Lee Jae-woong's remarks were reported by South Korean media, some South Korean netizens criticized that (the South Korean government) was blatantly pro-Japanese.

Another netizen asked, "Why do we have to 'kneel' (to Japan) first?!"

According to previous media reports, in response to the remarks made by Kim Tae-hyo and presidential officials, Lee Jae-myung, leader of South Korea's largest opposition party, the Democratic Party of Korea, criticized at the party's Supreme Committee meeting on the 19th, saying, "The president and South Korean civil servants are representatives elected by the people. I hope you will pay attention to the feelings of the South Korean people rather than the feelings of the Japanese people." Kim Bo-hyup (transliteration), chief spokesman of the opposition Fatherland Reform Party, said on the 18th that the South Korean presidential office now looks like a "loyal minister" who is worried that Japan will be exhausted (by the apology).

According to reports, on the 19th, the South Korean presidential office once again responded to the above criticism from the opposition party, saying that it regretted the opposition party's behavior of putting a "pro-Japanese framework" on the South Korean government and using it as a means of political struggle, leading to national division.