Lee Jae-myung "Are you saying you buy Japanese sea squirts but cannot buy rice produced by Korean farmers?"
The Democratic Party of Korea has been escalating its government criticism regarding the Korea-Japan summit held on the 16th. Following suspicions that there were mentions of comfort women and Dokdo during the summit, controversies such as Japan’s regression in history textbooks have surfaced one after another. Additionally, after Japanese media reported that President Yoon Suk-yeol was asked to lift restrictions on imports of Fukushima seafood during his visit to Japan, the Democratic Party has launched a 'National Investigation into the Truth of the Korea-Japan Summit' and even held a condemnation rally.
On the 30th, party leader Lee Jae-myung attended the 'Rally Against the Import of Fukushima Seafood and Condemning Humiliating Diplomacy with Japan' held at the National Assembly, demanding that President Yoon "fully disclose the truth of the humiliating diplomacy to the public and apologize to the people and history."
Leader Lee evaluated, "With this summit where everything was given away to Japan, Korea-Japan relations have regressed to the pre-1945 era." In particular, regarding a Japanese media report released the previous day that President Yoon met with former Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga in Tokyo on the 17th and said he would "seek the understanding of the Korean people even if it takes time" about the issue of releasing contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the ocean, Lee pointed out growing concerns over the 'resumption of imports of Fukushima seafood.'
Lee criticized, "The possibility of importing Fukushima agricultural and marine products, which are highly likely to be contaminated by radiation, into Korean territory is increasing. The lives and safety of the people are at risk," and questioned, "Is it that you can buy sea squirts from Japan but cannot buy rice produced by Korean farmers?" This was a sweeping criticism amid forecasts that the president might veto the amendment to the Grain Management Act, which was passed in the National Assembly under the Democratic Party’s leadership.
On the same day, the presidential office issued a media statement in the morning through the spokesperson’s office, saying, "There will never be any Fukushima seafood entering the country," and "The government’s position that the health and safety of the people are the top priority remains unchanged." This is interpreted as an attempt to calm public opinion following the worsening reaction to the previous day’s Japanese media report.
However, Leader Lee emphasized, "Publicly and clearly declare to the whole world that Fukushima agricultural products will never be imported." He added, "It is only right to declare an all-out war in the name of the Republic of Korea and its people against unjust historical aggression," and said, "The Democratic Party will thoroughly investigate the truth of this humiliating Korea-Japan summit that regressed history, damaged national dignity, and hurt the pride of the people, and will hold those responsible accountable."
Floor leader Park Hong-geun also said at the afternoon party meeting, "The Democratic Party’s request for a national investigation into President Yoon Suk-yeol’s diplomacy with Japan, submitted yesterday, will be submitted to today’s plenary session," and emphasized, "We must hold hearings at the standing committee level for each issue to resolve suspicions according to the law and rectify humiliating diplomacy with Japan."
He also pointed out, "President Yoon’s diplomatic incompetence is ultimately leading to economic incompetence," and criticized, "This Korea-Japan summit showed the end of diplomatic incompetence, and the Korea-US summit already had a red light even before it started."
Above all, he expressed concern over the sudden replacement of National Security Office chief Kim Sung-han ahead of the Korea-US summit.
At the policy coordination meeting held at the National Assembly in the morning, Floor leader Park said, "Despite numerous diplomatic disasters that cannot be listed one by one, it is strange that he was suddenly dismissed for unclear reasons," and criticized, "According to media reports, from the resignation of protocol secretary Kim Il-beom, there have been numerous reasons that are hard for the public to accept, such as 'internal power struggles within the National Security Office' and 'conflicts between Kim Seung-hee, a close aide to First Lady Kim Geon-hee, and officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.'"
He added, "The presidential office, which should be working overnight to devise strategies ahead of next month’s visit to the US, is instead becoming the source of all kinds of rumors," and said, "President Yoon, who is scheduled to make a state visit to the US at the end of April, holds the fate of our companies. The public is already worried that this might turn into 'Omelette Rice Summit Season 2'." He continued, "If another unfortunate incident occurs where national interests and the pride of the people are lost while intoxicated by the formality of a state visit, our people will no longer tolerate being 'Korea’s No. 1 salesperson.'"
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