YONHAP NEWS

Korean ambassador urges Japan to repent, Seoul to forgive

By Byun Duk-kun
SEOUL, Feb. 9 (Yonhap) -- The head of South Korea's diplomatic mission in Tokyo urged the Japanese government Tuesday to offer a sincere apology over its past wrongdoing while also calling on his country to show understanding following such an apology from Japan.

   Kwon Chul-hyun said it was time for both South Korea and Japan to put their past behind them through a sincere apology from Japan and Seoul's forbearance toward its Asian neighbor that colonized Korea from 1910-45.

   "With regard to the incident that left great wounds, I believe there must be a thorough reflection of the past by the side that inflicted injuries. But I also wonder if that will be enough. I think there must be a time when the injured, too, will have to show leniency," the South Korean ambassador to Japan told reporters here.

   Kwon is here on a brief visit to take part in an annual conference of the heads of 117 diplomatic missions abroad. The remarks came as this year marks the 100th anniversary of Japan's annexation of Korea.

   His comments also came as Seoul and Tokyo are set to hold a series of high-level dialogues this year, beginning with foreign ministerial talks this week between South Korean Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan and his Japanese counterpart Katsuya Okada.

   South Korean President Lee Myung-bak is also expected to travel to Japan later in the year for a summit with Japan's Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama under what is known as "shuttle diplomacy" between the two countries, according to Kwon.

   The South Korean diplomat said such meetings must be an opportunity for the countries' leaders to finally put the 100 years of their shared past behind and prepare for next 100 years to come.

   "In that sense, I wish there will be an occasion when every South Korean citizen can clearly see that the Japanese government's perception of history has changed. And I believe we, too, must respond with forbearance and turn this year into the start of new 100 years between the two countries," he said.

   Kwon said the Japanese government is agonizing over measures to prevent relations with South Korea from worsening over historical issues. Ties between the two have often been strained by what many South Koreans believe were efforts by Japan and its leaders to whitewash or even justify its past wrongdoing.

   Kwon said, however, that what is more important is for Japan to sincerely apologize and never again stray from that position, noting a 1995 statement issued by then Japanese Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama may have been enough to heal the wounds of many South Koreans caused by Japan's colonial rule of Korea, but that the statement was quickly tainted by ensuing provocative remarks by other Japanese leaders.

   In his statement, Murayama offered a "heartfelt apology" for causing "tremendous damage and suffering to the people of many countries, particularly to those of Asian nations."

   Ambassador Kwon said Japan's measures to put the past behind will at least have to be on a par with the Murayama statement.

   "It is difficult to say what will meet our expectation. I believe (the Korean government) at least wants to see a statement similar to the Murayama statement," he said.

   bdk@yna.co.kr
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