Ministry Admits Tokyo Station in Liberation Anniversary Video, Denies 'AI Error' Explanation

On August 18, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport belatedly acknowledged that a scene of Tokyo Station was included in a video commemorating the 80th anniversary of liberation. Initially, the ministry explained that it was "a mistake that occurred during the video production process by an outsourced company using artificial intelligence (AI)," but after being questioned by the National Assembly, it admitted that actual footage of Tokyo Station had been used.

An image of Tokyo Station featured in a video released by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Liberation Day. Zooming in on the screen reveals vehicles driving on the left side. Online community

On August 15, the ministry released a video titled "120 Years of Railways, Running Together with the Liberation Reclaimed by the People" on its official YouTube channel. As criticism arose over the inclusion of a scene showing Tokyo Station, the controversy spread. Vehicles driving on the left side, characteristic of Japanese roads, were also visible at the top of the screen. Two days later, the ministry set the video to private.

Immediately following the controversy, in response to an inquiry from Representative Jeon Yonggi of the Democratic Party of Korea on the National Assembly’s Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee, the ministry stated, "It was a mistake during the AI video implementation process, and it is not Tokyo Station." The ministry explained that the image was a virtual one created by AI, not an actual image.

However, when Representative Jeon's office confirmed that the footage was identical to a video titled "Tokyo at Night, Shinkansen Tracks" sold on an overseas video platform and pressed further, the ministry reversed its earlier position, admitting, "It is true that inappropriate footage was used during the outsourcing process."

Representative Jeon stated, "It is hard to understand how such a serious error could occur in a short commemorative video marking the 80th anniversary of liberation," and added, "The ministry must deeply reflect on this incident and take steps to prevent a recurrence."

Seo Kyungduk, a public relations expert and a professor at Sungshin Women's University, also mentioned the issue on his social media account, saying, "The ministry should not blame the contractor but should have properly reviewed the video itself," and emphasized, "In addition to holding those responsible accountable, the ministry must ensure that such incidents never happen again by exercising greater caution."

Agencies under the ministry have also faced similar controversies in the past. In 2022, the National Railroad Authority sparked criticism by using a photo of the Japanese Shinkansen in a Liberation Day social media post. Last month, SR, the operator of Suseo High-Speed Rail (SRT), provided a snack box decorated with an image of a turtle ship bearing the Japanese flag in its first-class cabins, but after controversy arose, the company recalled all the boxes and issued an apology.