South Korea protests Asian Games ceremony featuring Japanese warlord linked to 16th‑century invasions

Seoul, September 18 — The South Korean Olympic Committee has lodged a formal complaint with the organizers of the Asian Games in Nagoya over the inclusion of a Japanese warlord, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, in the welcoming ceremony. The ceremony, which took place on Tuesday, featured individuals dressed as Hideyoshi, who led Japan's invasions of Korea between 1592 and 1598.

This move sparked widespread outrage in South Korea, where historical grievances run deep. The period of Japanese colonial rule in Korea, from 1910 to 1945, further complicates relations between the two nations. Hideyoshi's invasion is a particularly contentious episode in Korean history. Three warlord characters, including Hideyoshi, were present at the arrival of a cruise ship in Nagoya, which will serve as a floating hotel for thousands of athletes participating in the Games.

Ryu Seung-min, the president of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee, sent a letter to both the local organizing committee and the Olympic Council of Asia, expressing regret and requesting measures to prevent similar incidents from occurring. As of the morning, no response had been received. The South Korean news agency AFP has sought comment from the organizers.

The relationship between Seoul and Tokyo has historically been fraught with tension due to Japan's colonial occupation of the Korean Peninsula, during which approximately 780,000 Koreans were conscripted into forced labor, according to Seoul's data. This figure does not account for those subjected to sexual slavery by the Japanese military.