Regarding the Election of the Party Leader: "Respect for LDP and Japan's Choice"
Park Cheol-hee, the South Korean Ambassador to Japan, stated on the 28th regarding the election of Shigeru Ishiba as the president of Japan's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), "I hope that the achievements in improving Korea-Japan relations made by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will continue to be inherited."
Park Cheol-hee, the South Korean Ambassador to Japan, is answering questions from the press after the opening ceremony of the Korea-Japan cultural exchange event "Korea-Japan Festival Hanmadang" held on the 28th at Komazawa Olympic Park in Tokyo. Photo by Yonhap News
After the opening ceremony of the Korea-Japan cultural exchange event "Korea-Japan Festival Hanmadang" held at Komazawa Olympic Park in Setagaya Ward, Tokyo, Ambassador Park responded to reporters' questions by saying, "Since this is the choice made by the LDP and Japan, I respect it." Ishiba will become the new prime minister succeeding Kishida through a parliamentary nomination election on the 1st of next month. Former Secretary-General Ishiba is regarded as a figure who has expressed relatively moderate views on Korea-Japan historical issues.
Regarding some opinions that "Korea has made concessions in Korea-Japan relations," Ambassador Park replied, "It is undeniable that Korea's decision led to the improvement of Korea-Japan relations, but it is also true that Prime Minister Kishida made efforts worthy of that," adding, "I hope such movements will become stronger."
The Korea-Japan Festival Hanmadang is an event held annually in both Korea and Japan, taking place around the same time in Seoul and Tokyo respectively. This year, it was held in Korea on the 22nd. The Japanese event, themed "The Flower of Friendship Blooming at the Festival," will continue until the 29th.
Masahiro Komura, Political Vice-Minister of Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, emphasized at the opening ceremony, "Korea and Japan are not only exchanging actively between governments but also among private companies, and cooperation is deepening," adding, "Next year marks the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations, so it is necessary to expand even more solid and broad exchanges."
Yong Ho-seong, First Vice Minister of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said, "Through this event, I hope that the people of both countries will understand each other's cultures a little more deeply and that friendship and cooperation will be strengthened."
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