Korean ambassador urges Japan to repent, Seoul to forgive

By Byun Duk-kun
SEOUL, Feb. 9 (Yonhap) -- The head of South Korea's diplomatic mission in Tokyo
urged the Japanese government Tuesday to offer a sincere apology over its past
wrongdoing while also calling on his country to show understanding following such
an apology from Japan.
Kwon Chul-hyun said it was time for both South Korea and Japan to put their past
behind them through a sincere apology from Japan and Seoul's forbearance toward
its Asian neighbor that colonized Korea from 1910-45.
"With regard to the incident that left great wounds, I believe there must be a
thorough reflection of the past by the side that inflicted injuries. But I also
wonder if that will be enough. I think there must be a time when the injured,
too, will have to show leniency," the South Korean ambassador to Japan told
reporters here.
Kwon is here on a brief visit to take part in an annual conference of the heads
of 117 diplomatic missions abroad. The remarks came as this year marks the 100th
anniversary of Japan's annexation of Korea.
His comments also came as Seoul and Tokyo are set to hold a series of high-level
dialogues this year, beginning with foreign ministerial talks this week between
South Korean Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan and his Japanese counterpart Katsuya
Okada.
South Korean President Lee Myung-bak is also expected to travel to Japan later in
the year for a summit with Japan's Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama under what is
known as "shuttle diplomacy" between the two countries, according to Kwon.
The South Korean diplomat said such meetings must be an opportunity for the
countries' leaders to finally put the 100 years of their shared past behind and
prepare for next 100 years to come.
"In that sense, I wish there will be an occasion when every South Korean citizen
can clearly see that the Japanese government's perception of history has changed.
And I believe we, too, must respond with forbearance and turn this year into the
start of new 100 years between the two countries," he said.
Kwon said the Japanese government is agonizing over measures to prevent relations
with South Korea from worsening over historical issues. Ties between the two have
often been strained by what many South Koreans believe were efforts by Japan and
its leaders to whitewash or even justify its past wrongdoing.
Kwon said, however, that what is more important is for Japan to sincerely
apologize and never again stray from that position, noting a 1995 statement
issued by then Japanese Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama may have been enough to
heal the wounds of many South Koreans caused by Japan's colonial rule of Korea,
but that the statement was quickly tainted by ensuing provocative remarks by
other Japanese leaders.
In his statement, Murayama offered a "heartfelt apology" for causing "tremendous
damage and suffering to the people of many countries, particularly to those of
Asian nations."
Ambassador Kwon said Japan's measures to put the past behind will at least have
to be on a par with the Murayama statement.
"It is difficult to say what will meet our expectation. I believe (the Korean
government) at least wants to see a statement similar to the Murayama statement,"
he said.
bdk@yna.co.kr
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