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Kim Tae-hyo, the deputy national security adviser, gives a briefing on outcomes in cooperation among South Korea, the US and Japan on Aug. 18, 2023, to mark the one-year anniversary of the Camp David summit. (Yonhap)

Korea’s principal deputy national security adviser Kim Tae-hyo has drawn criticism for saying that when it comes to thorny historical issues with Japan, “what’s important is what lies in the hearts of the Japanese people.” Opposition politicians have accused Kim of “openly declaring that his administration is a collaborationist traitor government.” 

In attempts at damage control, a presidential office official told reporters on Sunday that “the Japanese government has apologized dozens of times, and they’re getting tired of it.” But these comments only exacerbated the outcry. Kim became a public enemy in March of last year when he said, “According to data from our Foreign Ministry, the Japanese government has made over 20 official apologies to the Korean government.” 

During Kim’s appearance on a broadcast of KBS’ “Newsline W” on Friday, the host commented that President Yoon Suk-yeol did not mention any historical issues concerning Japan during his National Liberation Day address, noting the fact that Japanese media outlets called this choice “unprecedented.” 

Kim responded, “If the Japanese turn a blind eye to historical issues and refuse to issue any apology whatsoever, then we will point that out and demand change, loud and clear. What’s important is what lies in the hearts of the Japanese people.” 

“If someone does not want to apologize, but you get in their face and force an apology out of them, is that apology sincere?” he asked. 

“When you think about it in the context of whether or not it bolsters or damages South Korea-Japan relations, I think President Yoon and Prime Minister Kishida Fumio have built up a formidable amount of trust between them,” Kim added. 

After Kim’s comments prompted backlash, a high-level official within the presidential office met with reporters on Sunday. 

“Since South Korea and Japan have established relations, the Japanese government has made dozens of official apologies regarding its colonization of Korea. They are growing tired of it,” the official said.

“In a new era of South Korea-Japan relations and trilateral relations with the US and Japan, we need to think about what truly benefits South Korean companies and the Korean people, the various benefits and opportunities at stake, when considering historical issues.” 

The presidential office’s stance was basically a reiteration of Kim’s comments during his media interview last year, when he said that Japan had apologized over 20 times. At the time, politicians decried Kim’s comments as “distorting reality on behalf of the Japanese government.” 

“Kim has openly declared that his administration is a collaborationist traitor government,” Democratic Party spokesperson Hwang Jung-a wrote in a statement.

“To cover for the president’s collaborationist agenda, he has volunteered to become a successor of Lee Wan-yong. It’s truly pathetic,” Hwang said. Lee Wan-yong was a politician who signed the treaty allowing Japan’s annexation of Korea. 

“President Yoon and First Deputy Director Kim should apologize to the Korean people,” Hwang demanded. 

Kim Bo-hyeop, the senior spokesperson for the Rebuilding Korea Party, commented, “They’re worried about the ‘hearts of the Japanese people’ now? It looks as if the presidential office is now concerning itself with the fatigue of the Japanese government. A truly loyal subject. The Korean people are prepared to deal with such fatigue. What we are truly tired of is Kim and other collaborationists.” 

Experts are also criticizing Kim’s view of history. 

“Building relations with the US or trilateral relations with Japan and the US are one thing, but the attitude that Japan’s apology is not important is where the problem lies,” said Yang Kee-ho, a professor of Japanese studies at Sungkonghoe University. 

“If we attain something without getting the proper apology, then we are ultimately the losers who end up giving something away without really gaining anything in return,” Yang said. 

“The Japanese government has never used terms like ‘self-reflection.’ I want to ask him, ‘What do you think is in the hearts of the Japanese people?’” said Kang Chang-il, who formerly served as South Korean ambassador to Japan.

By Jang Na-rye, staff reporter; Um Ji-won, staff reporter; Shin Hyeong-cheol, staff reporter

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