The ROK Government Condemns Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary for Turning a Blind Eye to Historical Conscience.

1. Patriot Ahn Jung-geun is one of the greatest men in the history of Korea, who sacrificed himself for the independence of Korea from Japan’s colonial rule and genuine peace in the East. As such, he is one of the heroes most revered by Korea and the international community as well.

2. Hirobumi Ito is the main culprit behind Japan’s colonization of the Korean Peninsula in Japan’s imperial era: He forced the Korean Empire to sign the Eulsa Treaty, or the Korea-Japan Treaty of 1905; led his country’s aggression on the Korean Peninsula through military mobilization; and destroyed peace on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia, inflicting untold suffering on peoples of the countries concerned.

3. The government of the Republic of Korea cannot but be appalled that the Chief Cabinet Secretary of Japan, who speaks for the government of his country, made such absurd and ahistorical remarks regarding Patriot Ahn. The remarks clearly demonstrate that Japanese political leaders have yet to abandon its retrogressive view of history, which glorifies and justifies its history of imperialistic aggression. 

4. Leading figures of Japan should show sincere remorse for the country’s wrongdoings committed during its imperial era and face history in a humble way as soon as possible.

                Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Relations of MOFA

* unofficial translation