정부 “일본 시대착오적 행위 개탄”…‘광복절 야스쿠니 참배’ 비판 논평

The government strongly condemned the Japanese practice of visiting Yasukuni Shrine on August 15th, a day that marks both Japan's defeat and Korea's liberation. A government spokesperson stated, "The government cannot remain silent on this era-defying act. The Yasukuni Shrine's actions, which involve honoring war criminals and denying historical facts, reflect a mentality that refuses to acknowledge history."

The government urged both sides of the Japanese government to openly recognize past mistakes and engage in sincere reflection and repentance. This gesture, they argue, is crucial for fostering trust between the two nations and building a forward-looking relationship between Japan and South Korea. Despite the government's stance, several senior Japanese officials, including former Defense Minister Yoshihide Suga, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Kakao, and members of the ruling party, directly visited Yasukuni Shrine on the day in question.

Yasukuni Shrine, located in Tokyo's Minato Ward, is a memorial site that commemorates 2.466 million war casualties, including high-ranking Japanese military officials convicted of war crimes by the International Military Tribunal for the Far East (IMTFE) and sentenced to death.