Yoon Keeps Promise to Invite Atomic Bomb Victims' Korean Diaspora... Reaffirms Willingness for Korea-Japan Cooperation

Promise to Invite Korean Atomic Bomb Survivors to Korea in May from Hiroshima
Yoon: "Future-Oriented Development of Korea-Japan Relations"

President Yoon Suk-yeol invited compatriots affected by the atomic bomb to South Korea for a luncheon on Chuseok day, the 29th. This fulfilled a promise President Yoon made at a gathering of compatriots held in Hiroshima, Japan, during the G7 Summit in May, and is seen as a reaffirmation of the intention to improve and cooperate in Korea-Japan relations.

On the afternoon of that day, President Yoon hosted a luncheon meeting at the Blue House State Guest House with Korean compatriots who suffered atomic bomb damage in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, in 1945. This is the first time in 78 years since liberation that a Korean president has invited atomic bomb-affected compatriots to the country. The 85 atomic bomb-affected compatriots invited included 42 Zainichi Koreans and 43 residents in Korea. Notably, not only atomic bomb-affected compatriots but also Lee Gil-hoon, a recipient of the government’s solution for forced labor compensation, attended.

This invitation luncheon is interpreted as President Yoon’s intention to help those marginalized in both Korea and Japan while strengthening Korea-Japan cooperation based on universal values such as freedom, peace, and prosperity. President Yoon visited Tokyo, Japan, in March to hold a Korea-Japan summit with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, initiating the normalization of Korea-Japan relations, and Prime Minister Kishida also made a working visit to Korea on May 7, restoring shuttle diplomacy between the two countries after 12 years.

President Yoon Suk-yeol and First Lady Kim Keon-hee greet attendees as they enter the luncheon meeting for atomic bomb victims held at the Blue House State Guesthouse on the 29th, Chuseok.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

During the G7 Summit from May 19 to 21, President Yoon visited Hiroshima and held a meeting with Japanese compatriots, bowing his head and saying, "On behalf of the government, I sincerely apologize once again for not being able to stand with you during difficult times." Taking advantage of his visit to Hiroshima, President Yoon became the first Korean president to jointly pay respects with Prime Minister Kishida at the memorial for Korean atomic bomb victims. The two leaders later held a Korea-US-Japan summit at Camp David, USA, in August at the invitation of US President Joe Biden, agreeing to establish a cooperative system to strengthen deterrence against North Korea.

President Yoon comforted the atomic bomb-affected compatriots for their difficult lives and pledged to build a cooperative Korea-Japan relationship. He said, "I am well aware that the long-standing uncomfortable Korea-Japan relations have made your lives difficult," and promised, "The government will never again overlook the pain of our compatriots."

He continued, "Our government will cooperate with Japan, our closest neighbor sharing universal values of freedom, human rights, and the rule of law, to promote peace and prosperity in the region and the world," emphasizing, "The consolation for your pain and sacrifice will not end with today’s gathering. We will do our best to develop Korea-Japan relations in a more future-oriented way and to take good care of our compatriots." He reiterated, "Through the vision of a global pivotal state that fulfills its role and responsibility in the international community, our government will ensure that you and future generations can have pride and dignity."