Lee Jae-myung on Kishida's Visit to Korea: "Last Chance to Correct Submissive Diplomacy"

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, expressed his position regarding Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's visit to South Korea, stating, "I hope President Yoon Suk-yeol considers this the last chance to correct the submissive diplomacy toward Japan and spares no effort to protect national interests."

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

On the 7th, Lee wrote on Facebook under the title "Humiliating diplomacy that gives away everything and gets stabbed in the back must never be repeated," conveying this message.

He said, "The restoration of shuttle diplomacy can be seen as a fortunate development, but Japan's reciprocal visit in response to excessive concessions cannot be the goal of diplomacy," adding, "Restoring shuttle diplomacy without protecting national interests is merely a waste of national power." He continued, "If there is half a glass of water that Japan needs to fill, it is to clearly acknowledge historical responsibility related to forced mobilization," and stated, "If half a glass of water has been offered, the other half must be filled; the visit should not be one where Japan drinks all the water and returns an empty glass."

Lee also emphasized, "In this summit, the forced mobilization solution pushed through without victims' consent and ignoring the Supreme Court ruling must be reconsidered from the beginning," and "We must obtain a direct and clear apology from the Prime Minister regarding past history." He added, "Protecting territorial sovereignty is the nation's foremost duty that must not be compromised even an inch," and warned, "If the Japanese Prime Minister even mentions something like the Dokdo territorial claim, immediately walk out of the meeting."

He also addressed the discharge of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant. Lee stated, "Since there are significant concerns from our people as well as the international community about the discharge of contaminated water, the plan for ocean dumping of Fukushima nuclear wastewater must be withdrawn, and international joint verification and investigation must be enforced," and argued, "Japan's demand for agricultural and marine product imports without prior measures should be blocked in advance."

Finally, Lee said, "Listen to the voices of the people who worry first about 'what will be given away this time,'" and added, "The 'sucker diplomacy' that damages national dignity will no longer be tolerated by the people."