South Korean civic groups and opposition parties organized a rally in central Seoul on the 25th to criticize President Yoon Seok-yeol’s diplomacy with Japan. Approximately 20,000 people participated, according to the organizers’ estimation, which is twice the turnout compared to the previous Saturday. Despite the confirmation at the Japan-South Korea summit meeting that a South Korean foundation would take over the payment of compensation by Japanese companies over the former forced labor lawsuit, the criticism from South Korea has not subsided. Citizens’ group representatives argued that the “normalization” of bilateral relations, said to be the summit’s result, “covers up the truth of history and is the path to the past that Japanese imperialism desires.” They also vowed to continue working hand in hand with Japanese citizens for democracy, human rights, and peace to fight injustice.
Protesters at a large-scale rally criticizing President Yoon Seok-yeol’s diplomacy with Japan = central Seoul (Kyodo) on the 25th
[Seoul Kyodo]South Korean civic groups and opposition parties held a large-scale rally in the center of Seoul on the 25th to criticize President Yoon Seok-yeol’s diplomacy with Japan. According to the organizer’s estimate, about 20,000 people participated, twice as many as the previous Saturday. At the Japan-South Korea summit meeting, it was confirmed that a South Korean foundation would take over the payment of compensation by Japanese companies over the former forced labor lawsuit, but criticism has not subsided in South Korea.
Citizens’ group representatives argued that the “normalization” of bilateral relations, which is said to be the result of the summit, “covers up the truth of history and is the path to the past that Japanese imperialism desires.” “The citizens of South Korea and Japan, who have stood in solidarity for democracy, human rights and peace, will continue to work hand in hand to fight injustice,” he said.
In conclusion, tensions between Japan and South Korea continue to simmer despite recent efforts at reconciliation. The large-scale rally in Seoul shows that many South Koreans are still deeply unhappy with President Yoon Seok-yeol’s diplomacy with Japan, and believe that the compensation issue has not been adequately addressed. It remains to be seen how these ongoing tensions will affect the two countries’ relations going forward.