Park apologizes for father’s `sin’
By Kang Hyun-kyung
Presidential hopefuls Park Geun-hye and Ahn Cheol-soo called Monday for Korea, China and Japan to defuse the deeply-rooted animosity between them. The countries are currently locked in bitter diplomatic rows over territories and history, which undoubtedly will provide new challenges for Korea’s next president.
Korea is feuding with Japan over the islets of Dokdo, which the latter says it has historical claims to. Tokyo is also confronting Beijing over a chain of islands in the East China Sea.
Both Park, the candidate from the ruling Saenuri Party, and Ahn, an independent, raised concerns that the strains between the countries are beginning to spill over to economic relations and civic ties. However, they also stressed that the current problems stem from Japan’s brutal colonial rule and wartime atrocities inflicted on its neighboring nations and said the country must show more commitment toward reconciliation.
Joining Ahn at an international forum managed by the Seoul-based Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat, Park called the difficult diplomatic relations and tight trade relations among the Northeast Asian nations as an ``Asian paradox.’’
``Northeast Asia has become a central pillar of international order. The fact that the three countries comprise of 20 percent of the world’s gross domestic product (GDP) and global trade is a confirmation of this status,’’ she said.
``Yet ironically, the same Northeast Asia that has achieved unparalleled economic growth is also home to unprecedented strains based on historical and territorial tension, military competition, threat of nuclear weapons and an acute lack of trust between the countries. But if we make the wrong choices today, the consequences could be irrevocable.’’
Park called the countries to work closely to mend fences, claiming that a breakthrough would be possible if leaders are ready to commit for the greater gain of their people. She referred to the normalization of relations between the United States and China in the 1970s as well as the end of the Cold War as historical examples. However, she managed to say all this without mentioning Japan specifically.
Ahn called for Tokyo to make a sincere apology to its neighbors over past history, in the way former Germany Prime Minister Willy Brandt did for World War II that contributed to progress in the remaking of Europe.
The computer software guru and Seoul National University professor said tension and conflict in Northeast Asia will not help the future of the region and this will prevent the three nations from moving forward. Without cooperation among East Asian countries, he said peace on the Korean Peninsula would be unlikely.
Moon Jae-in, the presidential candidate of the main opposition Democratic United Party, didn’t participate in the event.
Earlier in the day, Park expressed her condolences to victims and their families of anti-government protests that took place in southeastern cities in 1979.
“I would like to extend my heartfelt sympathy to the victims and their family members who were sacrificed while fighting for democracy,” Park said in a speech in Masan, South Gyeongsang Province.
