Ruling, opposition parties express regret over Japanese officials' Yasukuni Shrine visits

South Korean lawmakers from both the governing and opposition parties voiced remorse on Saturday regarding visits to a war shrine by Japanese officials and politicians, viewed by many as emblematic of Japan's imperialist past. This reaction followed a trip to the Yasukuni Shrine by Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and a group of lawmakers belonging to the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) to commemorate Japan's 1945 surrender in World War II.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi offered a symbolic gesture of condolence at the shrine, but refrained from visiting it herself. Jeon Su-mi, a spokesperson for the ruling Democratic Party (DP), condemned the visits by Japanese officials and LDP lawmakers as a "reprehensible provocation," describing them as "reckless acts" rooted in "misguided nationalism."

Kim Dae-sik from the main opposition People Power Party, known for his close connection to Japan, expressed "deep regret," asserting that Koizumi's visit to the shrine undermines trust between the two nations. Kim argued that Japan's leaders should acknowledge the country's aggressive history and show genuine remorse through action, not merely words.