"Colonial Korea, Japan Like an Older Brother" Japanese Politician's Outrageous Remark... Korea-Japan Parliamentarians' Union Expresses "Strong Regret"

Eto Seishiro "Japan Must Naturally Always Take a Leading Position"
Yun Hojung "Will Discuss and Decide on Apology Demand at Korea-Japan Parliamentarians' Union Level"

Representative Eto Seishiro made an outrageous remark about Korea. Photo by Eto Seishiro

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Gunchan] Korean lawmakers visiting Japan protested against the outrageous remarks of a senior Japanese politician who said "Japan is like an older brother to Korea."

According to the Asahi Shimbun on the 5th, Seishiro Eto, a member of the Japanese House of Representatives, said, "Korea is, in a sense, a brother country," and "to be clear, Japan is like an older brother."

On the 4th, at a Liberal Democratic Party meeting, Eto spoke to reporters about Korea-Japan relations and made these remarks. He explained the meaning of his statement by saying, "Japan once colonized Korea in the past," and "considering that, Japan is, in a sense, like an older brother to Korea." He added, "We must build Korea-Japan relations with a broad-minded approach that firmly cooperates with Korea, watches over it well, and leads it."

When asked if Korea-Japan relations are equal, he retorted, "Do Japanese people think the Japan-US relationship is equal?" and said, "I don't think so." He continued, "Similarly, I don't think Korea believes Korea-Japan relations are equal," emphasizing, "Japan must always naturally take a leading position."

Korean lawmakers visiting Japan expressed concern over Eto's outrageous remarks.

Yoon Hojung, secretary-general of the Korea-Japan Parliamentarians' Union from the Democratic Party of Korea, who is visiting Japan to attend a joint secretaries' meeting with the Japan-Korea Parliamentarians' Union, said at a press conference with Korean media held at the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo on the morning of the same day, "His remarks were extremely regrettable." Regarding demands for an apology at the Korea-Japan Parliamentarians' Union level, he stated, "We will discuss and decide."

The Korea-Japan Parliamentarians' Union delegation visited Japan from the 3rd for a 2-night, 3-day schedule and held a joint secretaries' meeting with their Japanese counterparts from the Japan-Korea Parliamentarians' Union on the 4th.

Eto, a senior Japanese politician, served as Minister of Defense from 1995 to 1996 and as Vice Speaker of the House of Representatives from 2009 to 2012. He is a 13-term veteran belonging to the largest faction of the Liberal Democratic Party, the "Abe faction," and is currently also a member of the Japan-Korea Parliamentarians' Union.