BTS and Okja Mentioned with Confidence Saying "Overwhelming Japanese Culture"
"Ethnocentrism Trying to Dominate by Force"...Also Criticizing Ukraine Situation
[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] President Moon Jae-in attended the March 1st Movement anniversary ceremony on the 1st and emphasized the importance of improving Korea-Japan relations, criticizing Japan for needing to face history honestly. This appears to be a remark made with recent controversies in mind, such as the Japanese government's efforts to register the Sado Mine as a UNESCO World Heritage site and other historical issues.
At the 103rd March 1st Movement anniversary ceremony held at the National Memorial Hall of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea in Seoul that morning, President Moon stated, "Beyond Korea-Japan relations, I sincerely hope that Japan will take leadership as an advanced country."
President Moon said, "Cooperation between Korea and Japan is the responsibility of the current generation for future generations," adding, "As close neighbors, Korea and Japan must be able to cooperate toward the future by overcoming the 'once unfortunate past history.'" He pointed out that the prerequisite for this is Japan's need to face history honestly.
President Moon said, "When Japan can empathize with the wounds of the neighboring country's people that occasionally flare up due to the 'once unfortunate past,' it will become a trusted country," and added, "Our government will always keep the door to dialogue open to respond together to global challenges."
He also mentioned Hallyu culture such as BTS, Squid Game, and Parasite, emphasizing, "Our culture and arts have grown stronger through diversity and have even become competitive enough to overwhelm Japanese culture."
President Moon expressed concern, saying, "The international order is shaking amid the COVID-19 crisis," and "Nationalism centered on power to seize hegemony is rising again, and concerns about a new Cold War are growing." This seems to reflect the heightened global tensions due to the recent Ukraine situation.
Nevertheless, he said, "We carry the spirit of the March 1st Independence Movement, which protested violence, discrimination, and injustice and rejected hegemonic international order," emphasizing, "The lesson the spirit of the March 1st Independence Movement gives us today is that we must have the strength to lead our history without being swayed by a great power-centered international order."
President Moon stressed the necessity of inter-Korean cooperation, saying, "What is absolutely necessary for us to become stronger is peace on the Korean Peninsula," and "There was no North or South in the March 1st Independence Movement. The main current of the anti-Japanese independence movement was the great national unity and integration."
He said, "The history of the Korean War and the division we experienced afterward taught us that only dialogue, not confrontation and hostility, can bring peace," and added, "Efforts for dialogue to sustain peace must continue."
He continued, "Through dialogue and diplomacy, we can surely achieve denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and lasting peace," adding, "Through peace, we will protect the survival of our nation, enhance national dignity, and prosper in peace."
He also highlighted the government's efforts over the past five years for independence activists. President Moon said, "In the past five years, we have honored 2,243 independence activists. Among them, 245 female independence activists who had not been properly recognized were included," and mentioned efforts to repatriate the remains of independence activists such as Gye Bong-woo, Hwang Un-jung, and Hong Beom-do.
President Moon said, "By the end of last year, nameplates were placed on the homes of 460,000 independence and national merit families, and this year, nameplates will be placed on 100,000 more homes," adding, "The fact that ordinary neighbors are independence heroes will instill pride in local communities."
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