The government and the ruling People Power Party (PPP) have all argued to block public criticism of the summit with Japan, but their self-praise of the summit ended up fueling public opposition.

On March 20, comments poured out online claiming that the boasting of the presidential office was far from public opinion. On social media including Twitter, people posted a string of reactions, such as, “He opened the hearts of the Japanese people and pierced the hearts of the citizens of the Republic of Korea” and “How can one who injures the hearts of his own people be the president of the Republic of Korea?” They criticized the assessment of the summit released by the Office of the President spokesperson, Lee Do-woon the previous day. Lee said, “If diplomacy is opening the heart of the opponent and changing the situation in bilateral or multilateral relations, our handling of foreign relations in the latest trip to Japan was a huge success.” Lee described how the employees at the hotel and airport in Japan had applauded the president’s party and said, “The way things are at this point, I think we succeeded somewhat in opening the heart of the Japanese people.”

Choi (78), whom the Kyunghyang Shinmun met in Tapgol Park Monday, said, “I am a supporter of President Yoon Suk-yeol, but I think he really made a mistake this time,” and added, “Japan is not repenting, so I can’t understand why he went there and bent so low like that.” Gim (83), who was next to Choi, said, “He returned without saying a word about the forced mobilization. Ultimately, he went there for nothing, didn’t he?”

People also criticized a comment by People Power Party lawmaker Chung Jin-suk in an interview with the press on Monday morning. He asked the people to “Please overcome the colonial mentality.” Gim Hye-jin (45), whom the reporter met at Gwanghwamun Square, Seoul said, “I think if he (the president) did not have such a complex, he should have confidently said what he had to say (in Japan).” She argued, “If not saying what one had to say is the result of overcoming such a mentality, then it just doesn’t make sense.”

Another Gim (28), an office worker, said, “It’s not like they are insisting that something that did not happen happened. So I don’t see why he is blaming the victims for the perpetrator refusing to acknowledge the incident.” She argued that it was wrong to distort a painful history that should one day be confronted as a complex. Gim also said, “If it (the fruits of the president’s trip to Japan) was a decision for the future, then I wish they would clearly tell us what we gained and what we lost,” and added, “They claim they did something really well, but I don’t see what went so well.”

The president not clearly stating South Korea’s position on issues closely related to the safety of our citizens, such as the releasing of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant, also drew criticism. Han (56), a business-owner whom we met in Jung-gu, Seoul, said, “I enjoy fishing, but I don’t think I’ll be able to eat the fish I catch because they say they will soon release the contaminated water.” He complained, “The country should have made a strong statement on this, shouldn’t it?”

On Monday, the Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance for the Issues of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan (Korean Council) released a statement condemning the latest summit and demanded Kim Tae-hyo, first deputy director of the National Security Office, to immediately apologize to the victims and the people and resign. They argued that Kim “denigrated the efforts to restore the dignity and honor of the victims of his country as an ‘obstacle.’” In an interview with YTN on March 18, Kim spoke about the opposing public opinion and said, “When we carefully review the position of the people demonstrating on the streets right now, they are insisting on a position that the Japanese government would not accept. In other words, they can only be seen as equal to the conclusion that it is good to continue neglecting the bilateral relationship, which has been uncomfortable and which has acted as an obstacle in the last twelve years.”