hankyoreh

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)

Commenting on South Korea-Japan relations and historical disputes, principal deputy national security adviser Kim Tae-hyo, said, “If you force an apology out of someone, is that apology sincere?” 

“What’s important is what lies in the hearts of the Japanese people,” Kim added. 

Kim’s comments were made in defense of President Yoon Suk-yeol only days after outrage over the president’s address during the government’s National Liberation Day ceremony, which far from pressing Japan for an apology for its historical wrongdoings, failed to address this history at all. 

It is the South Korean government’s job to demand remorse and apologies for the brutal injustice committed by imperial Japan. But instead, we’re seeing kowtowing from a major figure within the current administration’s national security and foreign affairs apparatus. The Yoon administration seems to care more about what’s in the hearts of the Japanese people than what’s in the hearts of its own people.  

Kim’s comments came the day after Liberation Day during his appearance on a televised debate program. 

“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,” Kim said. 

“The important thing is what lies in the hearts of the Japanese people.” 

What is he talking about? If Japan turns a blind eye, Korea must point it out loud and clear, but should let it be if Japan doesn’t feel like apologizing? 

Kim’s comments are a violation of the “duty of the state” defined by the Constitution of the Republic of Korea. In August 2011, the Constitutional Court ruled that it was in violation of the Constitution for the Lee Myung-bak administration to make no effort to resolve issues regarding Korean victims of Japan’s “comfort women” system of sexual slavery. The court’s ruling was made with a view to force the Korean government to protect the security and property rights that it was unable to during the Japanese occupation. 

“The duty of recovering the human dignity and values of the comfort women victims, who were stripped of their dignity and rights, is of the most fundamental responsibility held by the Republic of Korea government, which is a successor of the legal traditions defined by the Provisional Government of Korea,” the Constitutional Court declared. 

In other words, it is the state’s most fundamental duty to demand self-reflection and an apology from the Japanese government regarding crimes committed against the women forced into sexual slavery and laborers who suffered forced mobilization. Viewing this duty as “forcing an apology” under the view that what’s important is “what’s in the hearts of the Japanese people” is an attempt to cover up the government’s failures and ignore the sentiments of the victims. In this regard, can Kim really be considered a public servant?

For the first time in our constitutional government’s history, National Liberation Day celebrations were divided into two ceremonies. This tears at the hearts of the Korean people, who are gravely disappointed in the unconstitutional efforts of the Yoon administration to support the distortion of history. Kim’s disgraceful comments have poured salt on the wounds of the Korean people. The president has charged such a person with the national security and diplomacy of the Republic of Korea. The people are seriously worried. 

Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]