Funnyman blasts Japan's history cover-up

Ha-Ha cries in MBC's "Infinity Challenge" as he hears about Koreans forced into slavery at Hashima Island during Japanese colonial rule (1910~1945). / Screen capture from MBC

“It seems like Japan informs people only about their beautiful past, disregarding the rest of their history.”

TV personality Ha-Ha’s comment on Saturday has become popular among Koreans who lived under Japanese colonial rule (1910~1945).

A regular member of MBC’s entertainment show “Infinity Challenge,” Ha-Ha was saddened when he visited Hashima Island, one of the seven Meiji-era industrial sites where Koreans were forced into slave labor.

The island made headlines in August

when Japanese actress Kiko Mizuhara -- a former girlfriend of Korean singer G-Dragon -- posted SNS photos of herself and co-stars of Japanese movie “Attack on Titan.” She angered Koreans who considered she ignored what happened on the island.

With hallyu activist Seo Kyeong-duk, Ha-Ha visited Japan as part of the show to comfort Korean descendants in Japan by delivering Korean meals.

Japan has constantly refused to admit its crimes during the colonial era, with Korean politicians and civic groups criticizing Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.