S. Korea expresses “deep concern” regarding Abe’s ritual offering to Yasukuni Shrine

Posted on : 2019-08-16 15:41 KST Modified on : 2019-10-19 20:29 KST
Seoul calls on Tokyo to reflect on history to move forward in S. Korea-Japan relations
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe gives a commemorative address during a ceremony honoring Japanese soldiers who died during World War II in Tokyo’s Nippon Budokan area on Aug. 15.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe gives a commemorative address during a ceremony honoring Japanese soldiers who died during World War II in Tokyo’s Nippon Budokan area on Aug. 15.

The Korean government has expressed “deep concern” and called for self-reflection and introspection on past history “through real action” after Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo sent a ritual offering to Yasukuni Shrine, a symbol of Japanese war crimes, and visited the shrine with a group of right-wing members of the House of Representatives on Aug. 15.

On Aug. 15, Liberation Day, the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) released a statement through the ministry website under the name of a spokesperson which read, “The government expresses deep concern over the fact that the Japanese government and responsible members of the House of Representatives are glorifying Japan’s past colonization and war of aggression, and once again made a ritual offering and visit to Yasukuni Shrine.” The statement continued, “The Korean government urges Japanese political leaders to demonstrate humble self-reflection and introspection regarding past history through real action, and notes that when this attitude serves as a foundation, Korea-Japan relations will develop to become more future-oriented and trust from the international community can be won.”

While Aug. 15 is Liberation Day in Korea, it is also the day on which the Empire of Japan was defeated by the Allies in World War II. MOFA released the official statement after a report by Kyodo News that Abe had offered a “tamagushi” (a sakaki-tree branch decorated with white paper) under his own name to Yasukuni Shrine through the Special Assistant to the President of the Liberal Democratic Party. After taking office for the second time in December 2012, Abe has sent an offering every year on the day of defeat. Fifty right-wing lawmakers belonging to the Meeting of Lawmakers for Visiting the Yasukuni Shrine Together also made a group visit to the shrine on the same day.

By Noh Ji-won, staff reporter

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