Seems to Have Stayed in Gangneung to Enter Dokdo
Interpreted as 'Political Message in the Same Manner as Four Years Ago'
Jo Guk, leader of the Jo Guk Innovation Party, will visit Dokdo on the afternoon of the 13th.
Cho Kuk, leader of the Cho Kuk Innovation Party, took a photo placing Lotte Chilsung Beverage's soju brands "Saero" and "Cheoeumcheoreom" side by side. [Image source=Facebook of Cho Kuk, leader of the Cho Kuk Innovation Party]
On the 12th, Leader Jo posted on Facebook, "On February 13th, after the party founding declaration, I had a few shots of soju with my aides for the first time," adding, "'Saero', 'Cheoeumcheoreom'. An organic pork belly restaurant on the outskirts of Gangneung," along with photos of Lotte Chilsung Beverage's soju brands 'Saero' and 'Cheoeumcheoreom'. He continued, "It feels like being on vacation," but also stated, "Tomorrow, I will compose myself and head to Dokdo, which I have planned since the party's founding." It is expected that Leader Jo and about 7 to 8 party officials will visit Dokdo. They plan to depart from Gangneung to Ulleungdo in the morning of the 13th and then proceed to Dokdo in the afternoon.
Earlier, on the 9th, the Jo Guk Innovation Party announced, "On May 13th, Jo Guk will go to Dokdo," stating, "Dokdo is our land. We will judge the Yoon Seok-yeol administration's humiliating diplomacy toward Japan." Therefore, this visit by the Jo Guk Innovation Party is seen as a protest against the so-called "LINE management rights seizure attempt incident" by the Japanese government. In particular, Lee Hae-min, a Jo Guk Innovation Party elected member and former Google employee, criticized the "LINE incident" at a recent press conference, saying, "The normalization of Korea-Japan relations claimed by President Yoon Seok-yeol has been revealed to be nothing but another name for submissive diplomacy toward Japan."
However, there is expected to be controversy over the appropriateness of the Dokdo visit. In fact, there have been claims that mentioning the Dokdo issue in Korea-Japan relations plays into Japan's intention to label Dokdo as a disputed territory. Especially within the ruling party, there is a view that visiting Dokdo during sensitive times on both sides stirs anti-Japanese sentiment. Ho Jun-seok, spokesperson for the People Power Party, commented, "The People Power Party and the Yoon Seok-yeol government will make every effort to resolve the LINE incident amicably," adding, "Nothing has been resolved by unilaterally criticizing our government and further escalating anti-Japanese sentiment."
Meanwhile, about four years ago, just before being nominated as Minister of Justice, Leader Jo posted a photo displaying three soju bottles: 'Daeseon', 'Jinro', and 'Ttak Joheun Day'. Some interpreted this as a political message, suggesting it conveyed the atmosphere of Leader Jo being regarded as a "next presidential candidate" at the time.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
