"Rising Sun Flag Raised for Korea-Japan Relations" Absurd Argument
Lee's Affiliated Elderly Association to Hold Meeting Soon for Action
On the recent March 1st Independence Movement Day, a man who hung the Rising Sun Flag on his apartment in Hansol-dong, Sejong City, sparking public outrage, appeared at a rally demanding the removal of the Comfort Woman statue.
On the 7th, organizations such as the National History Textbook Research Institute and the National Movement to Abolish the Comfort Women Law gathered near the Peace Statue of the Comfort Woman at Sejong Lake Park in Sejong City, claiming, "Remove the statue, a symbol of lies and hatred."
The Action for the Abolition of the Comfort Women Law held a rally on the 7th in front of the Statue of Peace in Sejong Lake Park, urging the removal of the statue. / Photo by Yonhap News
That day, the host said, "One of our members will speak," and handed the microphone to a man, who turned out to be Mr. Lee, the so-called Rising Sun Flag pastor.
After receiving the microphone, Mr. Lee introduced himself, saying, "I raised the Rising Sun Flag hoping for a future-oriented Korea-Japan relationship," and added, "I never expected to become such a big star."
He continued, "My maternal family is all Japanese," and said, "If other houses had hung the Taegeukgi (Korean national flag) on March 1st, it might have blended well with the Rising Sun Flag I displayed," adding, "Unfortunately, there were hardly any Taegeukgi flags, and instead, the Rising Sun Flag was prominently fluttering."
An apartment in Sejong City displaying the Japanese Rising Sun flag during the last March 1st Movement Day / Photo by Yonhap News
He further stated, "On the other hand, if this incident leads to more Taegeukgi flags being displayed, it would be a more constructive outcome," and lamented, "No matter how much I think about it, I did not commit any illegal or unlawful act. So why were those people who barged into my house, pressed the doorbell repeatedly, shouted, and cursed not restrained?"
Mr. Lee's identity was first revealed through a JTBC report on the 6th. In a video of him preaching at a church released by the media, he referred to the Japanese colonial period as "the era of the Greater Japanese Empire," claiming, "Because of Japan, and through Japan, we were able to learn civilization and modern education."
Citizens are incredulous and strongly criticize Mr. Lee's claims. Meanwhile, according to YTN on the 7th, the church presbytery to which Mr. Lee belongs plans to hold a meeting soon to decide on measures regarding him.
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