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 correspondent to southern Lebanon: Israeli warplanes launched a raid on the Ksar Zaatar neighborhood in western Nabatieh.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The tower destroyed by the Israeli occupation in Gaza includes media offices, including Al Mayadeen's bureau.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: Four fetuses and three premature babies died at Nasser Medical Complex due to malnutrition
Lebanese Ministry of Health: One person was killed in an Israeli airstrike on a car in the town of Burj Qalawieh, south Lebanon.
Al Mayadeen correspondent: The first ship of the Maghreb fleet delivering aid to break the siege on Gaza departs from the port of Gammarth in Tunisia.
Channel 12: Airspace closed at Ramon Airport due to fears of drone infiltration
IOF Spokesperson: Sirens sounded over an aircraft infiltration in the Bir Ora area, and details are being examined
Drone infiltration sirens sound north of the Gulf of Aqaba
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The Israeli occupation carried out five extremely violent raids on the western areas of Gaza City
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The Israeli occupation carried out major bombings in the Gaza Strip, the most violent since October 7

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

The damaged building in the Katara neighborhood, Doha, Qatar, September 9, 2025 (Social media)

Hamas delegation survives Israeli assassination attempt in Qatar

  • Politics
  • 9 Sep 2025
Pro-"Israel" conservative Charlie Kirk shot during Utah speech

American far-right activist Charlie Kirk shot dead during Utah speech

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025
Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza.

Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza

  • Politics
  • 12 Sep 2025
A screengrab from the ad played on Fox News. (X Screengrab)

Fox airs ad warning Trump not to let Netanyahu 'play' him on Gaza

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
President Nicolas Maduro gestures to supporters during the inauguration of a monument in China's honor on the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, September 3, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Maduro warns of threats, urges 'battle for truth' to defend Venezuela

Damage is seen after an Israeli strike targeted a compound that hosted Hamas' political leadership in Doha, Qatar, Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell)
Politics

Netanyahu informed Trump before deadly attack in Doha: Reports

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio hold a joint press conference at the Prime Minister's Office, during Rubio's visit, in occupied al-Quds, occupied Palestine, Monday, September 15, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Netanyahu warns of Israeli isolation, calls to boost self-reliance

Spain axes €700Mln arms deals with 'Israel' over Gaza genocide
Politics

Spain axes €700Mln arms deals with 'Israel' over Gaza genocide

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