Jin Jeong-seok: "Let's Please Overcome the Colonial Complex"

"Emotional Anti-Japan Agitation Is Not Always Beneficial"
"It's Only a Matter of Time Before We Surpass Japan"
Former People Power Party Emergency Committee Chair Interviewed on CBS Radio

Former People Power Party Emergency Response Committee Chairman Jeong Jin-seok said on the 20th, "It is only a matter of time before we surpass Japan," adding, "Let's face Japan confidently. Please, let's get out of the colonial complex."

Jeong appeared on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' that day and said, "We are already surpassing Japan. The per capita Gross Domestic Product (GDP) difference between Korea and Japan is only a few hundred dollars," emphasizing this point.

Regarding criticism from opposition parties and civic groups surrounding the recent Korea-Japan summit, he responded, "Emotionally inciting anti-Japanese sentiment is not the solution."

Jeong said, "There are talks ranging from the humiliation at Samjeondo to pro-Japanese collaborators, traitors, native Japanese collaborators, and even the 'Jukchangga' song," adding, "The Democratic Party has no reason to oppose enhancing and securing national interests. Unlike in the past, not all of our people, especially the younger generation, sympathize with anti-Japanese agitation."

Jeong Jin-seok, former Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Jeong predicted, "Prime Minister Kishida may bring a progressive message during his upcoming visit to Korea in the near future." He praised, "A new phase shift on a large scale has become desirable," and said, "Compared to Japan, we have made a much more magnanimous and bold judgment."

Regarding the government's 'third-party payment proposal,' he evaluated it as "a compromise measure considering both domestic and international law." Jeong pointed out, "The plaintiffs who received compensation rulings from our courts against the defendant companies Shin Nippon Steel and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries were dismissed by Japan's Supreme Court," and added, "Our courts had the same result as Japan in the first and second trials, but the Supreme Court overturned and remanded the case, resulting in a compensation ruling in 2018."

He continued, "Japanese companies must follow Japanese domestic law, and we must respect our Supreme Court. However, there is the 1965 Claims Agreement between the two countries," explaining, "This has become a very difficult issue where domestic laws of both countries and international agreements intersect."

Jeong said, "The Democratic Party also expressed strong positions but failed to propose any alternatives," and added, "Then, should we continue to leave bilateral relations in this state, and does that align with our national interests? We must naturally consider this. If there is a more realistic solution, the Democratic Party should present it."