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Civic groups hold a press conference outside the Yongsan presidential office on July 21 condemning recent remarks by Foreign Minister Park Jin and the Yoon administration’s “degrading diplomacy” toward Japan. (Kim Jung-hyo/The Hankyoreh)

On Thursday, civic organizations in South Korea argued that the recent meeting between the foreign ministers of South Korea and Japan “damaged historical justice and condoned Japanese militarism,” and called for the South Korean government to “stop degrading itself through diplomacy.”

Action for Historical Justice and Peace Between South Korea and Japan, an alliance of nine civil society organizations including the Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance for the Issues of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan and the Center for Historical Truth and Justice, held a press conference Thursday in front of the South Korean presidential office in Seoul’s Yongsan District.

Civic groups hold a press conference outside the Yongsan presidential office on July 21 condemning recent remarks by Foreign Minister Park Jin and the Yoon administration’s “degrading diplomacy” toward Japan. (Kim Jung-hyo/The Hankyoreh)

“Although the Yoon Suk-yeol administration has argued for the improvement of South Korea-Japan relations since before its inauguration, the [South Korean] foreign minister’s recent visit to Japan has made clear that [the administration] has neither principle nor plan when it comes to its foreign policy towards Japan,” the group stated. “[The Yoon administration] consistently bowed low and humiliated itself through its diplomacy, offering anything and everything according to Japan’s demands.”

Especially regarding South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin’s remark that he “respects” the 2015 “comfort women” agreement between South Korea and Japan as an “official agreement between governments,” the group said, “The ‘comfort women’ agreement was a one-sided rush job of an agreement every [South Korea] citizen opposed.”

“If it inherits such an agreement, the Yoon administration will have to face judgment for its historical mistake,” the group warned.

The group also criticized the solution the South Korean government has come up with regarding the issue of compensation for victims of forced labor during the Japanese colonial period.

The group pointed out that the liquidation procedures faced by offending Japanese companies yet to fulfill the court’s ruling that they compensate victims of forced labor at their hands, which allows for the liquidation of assets held by these companies in South Korea through forced sales, are completely legal and based on the Supreme Court of Korea’s 2018 ruling. Yet, the Yoon administration was sympathizing with Japan’s opposition against the measure, stating it would find a solution that would prevent the liquidation procedures, which the group slammed as shameful.

Civic groups hold a press conference outside the Yongsan presidential office on July 21 condemning recent remarks by Foreign Minister Park Jin and the Yoon administration’s “degrading diplomacy” toward Japan. (Kim Jung-hyo/The Hankyoreh)

The group also noted its opposition to military cooperation among South Korea, the US and Japan, emphasizing that military cooperation with Japan is unthinkable when the country refuses to apologize for its colonial past. It stated that it will continue to act for the realization of historical justice and peace in East Asia moving forward.

The group said it will be holding a candlelight vigil against military cooperation among South Korea, the US, and Japan in front of the Statue of Peace at 7 pm on Saturday.

By Kim Jung-hyo, staff reporter

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