Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Israeli occupation forces bombing the Gaza Strip
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Ceasefire in Gaza takes effect
The Kremlin: Negotiations toward a settlement in Ukraine are currently at a complete standstill
Abu Mujahid: The steadfastness of the Palestinian people and the Resistance thwarted the displacement plan and allowed us to secure the best possible terms in an agreement to halt the genocidal war
Abu Mujahid: We salute whosoever made sacrifices in support of the Palestinian people, foremost among them the martyred Sayyed Nasrallah and Sayyed Safieddine, as well as the people of Yemen and Iran
Abu Mujahid, head of the media office of the Popular Resistance Committees, to Al Mayadeen: The people of Gaza have sacrificed and given their most precious offerings for the Al-Aqsa Flood
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: Israeli artillery shelling targeted Khan Younis and the al-Bureij and al-Maghazi refugee camps
Captives may be released as early as Saturday and by Monday at the latest: Source briefed on the details of the agreement.
Netanyahu set to convene security cabinet at 1500 (1200GMT) and government at 1600 (1300GMT) to approve the deal: Source briefed on the details of the agreement
Within the first 24 hours, the Israeli military will complete the first phase of partial withdrawal: Source briefed on the details of the agreement

Kishida avoids direct apology to Korean victims after Seoul summit

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News Website
  • 7 May 2023 21:37
4 Min Read

Ever since offering compensation for those affected by Japan's colonial past, Yoon has faced domestic criticism.

  • x
  • South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol walks alongside Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in a welcoming ceremony in Seoul, South Korea, 7 May 2023. (Reuters)
    South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol walks alongside Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in a welcoming ceremony in Seoul, South Korea, 7 May 2023. (Reuters)

Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida conveyed his sympathy for forced Korean laborers during Japan's colonial rule over the country during a summit held with South Korean President, Yoon Suk Yeol, which comes in the context of a political alliance to counter alleged nuclear threats from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

In his statement, Kishida shared his feeling regarding the issue, saying that he felt a "strong pain" when thinking of "the extreme difficulty and sorrow that many people had to suffer under the severe environment in those days," while he made sure not to issue a direct apology for his nation's actions during the colonial era, which lasted from 1910 to 1945.

"Japan and South Korea share various history and development, and I believe it is my responsibility as Prime Minister of Japan to cooperate with President Yoon and the South Korean side as we follow through the effort of our predecessors who have also overcome the difficult times," said Kishida as he eyes maintaining the improved diplomatic trend between the two governments.  

Kishida arrived in South Korea earlier Sunday for a two-day visit to the country, which marks the second Japanese-SouthKorean as the top officials met earlier in Tokyo in March, making the exchanged visits of the two leaders the first in 12 years.

The meetings came in part to resolve tensions, which boiled over, after a 2018 South Korean ruling, which mandated that Japanese companies financially compensate workers of the colonial era.

In March this year, Yoon's government announced a plan to pay those impacted in a bid to calm disputes between the Asian countries without Tokyo's direct involvement -- a move that angered much of the South Korean public.

Related News

DPRK warns of escalation after South Korean warning shots at DMZ

South Korea aims to ease tensions, DPRK labels talks 'false dream'

Tokyo maintains that the 1965 treaty, which saw Japan's reestablishment of diplomatic ties with South Korea after a reparations package totaling roughly $800 million in grants and low-interest loans, was agreed upon to resolve all disputes dating to the pre-1945 period.

Victims condemn rapprochement 

The unilateral decision of South Korea to financially settle the dispute was welcomed by Tokyo's government, however, the policy was heavily criticized by forced labor victims and political rivals, who stuck by their demand of pushing Japanese companies to pay fair compensation to those affected.

Yang Geum-Deok, who worked at a Mitsubishi factory at the time, said at a rally in Seoul, "I am 95 years old and I don't know if I die today or tomorrow. But never in my life have I felt so distressed." 

"Even if I die of hunger, I would not accept that dirty money," she said as he held a poster that read, "Mitsubishi must apologize and compensate!"

Close to 780,000 Koreans were forced into labor by Japan during the colonial period, according to Seoul - this number does not include the hundreds of women forced into sexual slavery by the Japanese army at the time. 

At the rally, victim Kim Sung-Joo said, "It was the Japanese who dragged us to Japan. Who do we turn to demand an apology?" 

On the other hand, Kishida has echoed previous official Japanese positions, including the 1998 joint declaration on improving ties, which excluded a formal apology as Keizo Obuchi, the Prime Minister at the time, said "I feel acute remorse and offer an apology from my heart."

"Kishida’s comments about Koreans who suffered under Japanese colonialism may be criticized for not being more specific about historical perpetrators and more apologetic toward historical victims," said Leif-Eric Easley, a Professor at Ewha University in Seoul. "But Kishida did visit South Korea’s national cemetery and said that his heartfelt views, respect for the past, and recognition of current global challenges produce a sense of responsibility for improving Seoul-Tokyo relations."

  • Seoul
  • Japan
  • Fumio Kishida
  • Yoon Suk Yeol
  • Colonialism
  • South Korea

Most Read

Tucker Carlson speaks at a memorial for Charlie Kirk, Sunday, September 21, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona (AP)

Tucker Carlson: Israeli officers gave orders on Iran inside Pentagon

  • Politics
  • 2 Oct 2025
A Hamas fighter in combat fatigues stands before the ceremony for the handover of Israeli captives to the Red Cross in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip, Saturday, February 22, 2025 (AP)

Hamas responds to Trump plan, backs Gaza withdrawal, exchange

  • Politics
  • 3 Oct 2025
Mossad’s secret role in Aldo Moro’s 1978 murder revealed

Mossad’s secret role in Aldo Moro’s 1978 murder exposed

  • Politics
  • 5 Oct 2025
The Palestinian resistance and the people of Gaza showed that after combating Israeli aggression for two years, they remain victorious in the face of oppression (Mahdi Rteil/Al Mayadeen English)

Al-Aqsa Flood two years on, a tale of victory

  • Politics
  • 6 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
An Israeli armored vehicle moves on a street of a local market during a military raid in the West Bank refugee camp of Balata, Wednesday, October 8, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Israeli settlers kill Palestinian youth near Ramallah amid raids

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov speaks during the Moscow format consultations on Afghanistan in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Iran interested in resuming nuclear talks: Lavrov

International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva speaks during a news conference at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) headquarters in Washington, April 25, 2025 (AP)
Politics

IMF head flags US budget, Europe defense spending challenges

Prime Minister of Italy Giorgia Meloni addresses the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025, at UN headquarters (AP)
Politics

Meloni faces ICC complaint over Gaza genocide complicity with Israelis

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS