Kang Seung-woo is the Business Desk editor at The Korea Times. Prior to this position, he covered politics, national affairs, finance and sports.
Political circles demand Japan's formal apology over diplomat's lewd comment about President Moon
Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong-kun, right, speaks with Japanese Ambassador to Korea Koichi Aiboshi at the foreign ministry in Seoul, Saturday. Courtesy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
By Kang Seung-woo
Envoy's gaffe presents new stumbling block to Moon's Tokyo Olympics visit
By Kang Seung-woo
Politicians here have criticized a senior Japanese diplomat's “highly inappropriate” remarks about President Moon Jae-in, urging the Japanese government to make a formal apology.
Hirohisa Soma, the deputy chief of mission at the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, reportedly ridiculed the president's efforts to hold a summit with Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on the sidelines of the upcoming Tokyo Olympics, describing it as “masturbating.” He made the remark during a meeting with a reporter from a local cable network.
A few hours after the report came to light Friday evening, Japanese Ambassador to Korea Koichi Aiboshi issued a statement expressing regret over Soma's inappropriate comments. Aiboshi was also summoned to the Korean foreign ministry to face an official complaint from Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong-kun.
“Vice Minister Choi strongly urged Aiboshi to swiftly take tangible, corresponding measures to avoid the repetition of any similar incident,” the ministry said in a statement Saturday.
Hirohisa Soma, the deputy chief of mission at the Japanese Embassy in Seoul / Yonhap
The presidential hopefuls of Korea's rival parties reacted in unison strongly to the undiplomatic remarks.
“Soma, the No. 2 man in the embassy, humiliated President Moon with an unspeakable sexual term, which is shocking and ignorant,” Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung said on Facebook, adding that the incident was not an issue that could be resolved by the ambassador's expression of regret.
“The repeated practice of Japanese government officials and politicians making thoughtless comments have damaged relations between Korea and Japan.”
The governor, the leading presidential contender within the ruling bloc, also urged the Japanese government to reprimand Soma sternly and called for a formal apology.
Rep. Lee Nak-yon of the liberal ruling Democratic Party of Korea, who is seen as having close ties with key Japanese politicians, said, “It is unbelievable that a diplomat made such a remark about the leader of the country that hosts his embassy. As someone who knows a bit about Japan, this incident will have a shameful effect on Japanese diplomacy.”
Yoo Seong-min, a former four-time lawmaker of the conservative main opposition People Power Party, said the incident was an “unacceptable act insulting to the Korean people.'
“The Korean government must immediately take appropriate measures to uphold the sovereignty and dignity of our country,” Yoo added, also urging the Japanese government to taking responsible action.
In the wake of the tasteless comment Koreans' animosity toward Japan has increased, and President Moon's possible trip to Japan to attend the opening ceremony for the Olympic Games is losing steam.
Regarding the latest hiccup in bilateral ties between the two countries, Cheong Wa Dae said that it was taking the issue seriously and planned to take diplomatically appropriate measures against Japan, raising speculation that Moon was tilting toward ditching the plan.
The presidential office has sought to resolve the issue of Japan's export controls on some industrial materials bound for Korea imposed two years ago due to an ongoing feud over history issues, by arranging a Moon-Suga summit, but Tokyo has shown no signs of being willing to accept Seoul's demands.
Given that the Olympic Games kick off this Friday, Cheong Wa Dae is expected to make a decision regarding Moon's trip as early as Monday. If the President opts not to go, Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum is likely to take his place.
According to a poll released Thursday, 55.8 percent of 1,060 respondents objected to Moon's trip to Japan, compared with 32.5 percent who approved of it.