"South Korean President Usually Killed or Arrested After Term Ends," Former Japanese Prime Minister's Controversial Remark

Controversial Remarks at Japan Political and Business Meeting
Explaining "Difficulties in Korea-Japan Exchange"
Criticized as 'Malicious Comment Generator' in Both Korea and Japan

Tar? As? (麻生太郞), the Deputy President of Japan's Liberal Democratic Party, who is criticized as a "maker of outrageous remarks" in both South Korea and Japan, reportedly made a statement implying that "most former South Korean presidents are either assassinated or arrested after completing their five-year terms."

Taro Aso, former Prime Minister of Japan and Deputy President of the Liberal Democratic Party, is giving a lecture at an international forum held in Taipei, Taiwan, on August 8.
[Photo by Reuters·Yonhap News]

On the 13th, the Mainichi Shimbun reported that Deputy President As? attended a Japan-Korea Cooperation Committee parliamentary meeting, formed by Japanese political and business circles, the previous day. He reportedly said this while urging President Yoon, whom he met twice last year and this year, "not to let the change of administration cause upheaval in Japan-Korea relations."

As?, who also served as Japan's Prime Minister, visited South Korea in November last year and May this year to meet President Yoon.

In particular, at the parliamentary meeting, As? reportedly pointed out that former South Korean presidents "are generally assassinated or arrested" after completing their five-year terms, expressing the difficulty of Japan-Korea exchanges by saying, "How can we maintain relations as neighboring countries under such circumstances?"

As? serves as the chairman of the Japan-Korea Cooperation Committee and has met with President Yoon during his visits to South Korea in November last year and May this year. However, the report did not specify whether As? made the remarks about the South Korean presidents during his meetings with President Yoon.

President Yoon Suk-yeol is having dinner with Taro Aso, Deputy President of Japan's Liberal Democratic Party, who visited Korea, at the presidential residence in Hannam-dong, Yongsan, Seoul on May 11.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

As? is a 14-term member of the Japanese parliament and is considered one of the leading far-right politicians in Japan. He is known as a symbol of "hereditary politicians" even in Japan's "hereditary kingdom." Coming from a prestigious family with influence in both politics and business, his direct lineage operates the major Kyushu-based conglomerate, the As? Group.

His great-grandfather, Takichi As?, amassed considerable wealth by operating the As? coal mine in Fukuoka during the Japanese colonial period.

Due to this background, As? has made numerous blunt remarks over time, resulting in criticism as a "maker of outrageous remarks" in both South Korea and Japan.

Last month, during a lecture in Fukuoka City, he referred to executives of the ruling coalition partner Komeito, including its leader, as "cancer," provoking backlash from Komeito. At that time, As? made this harsh comment while criticizing Komeito for not being proactive when the coalition decided last year to possess "counterattack capabilities" to strike enemy bases.

He also stirred controversy by calling the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics the "cursed Olympics" when discussions about postponement or cancellation arose.