Yoon apologizes to S. Korean A-bomb victims in Japan

President Yoon Suk Yeol holds the hands of Park Nam-joo, a South Korean victim of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima in 1945, during a meeting with victims of the bombing at a hotel in Hiroshima, Japan, Friday. Joint Press Corps

President arrives in Hiroshima for G7 Summit

By Nam Hyun-woo

HIROSHIMA, Japan ― President Yoon Suk Yeol apologized, Friday, to South Korean victims of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima in 1945, saying their country was not there to help when the victims were suffering in a foreign land.

“When [South] Koreans were suffering from the atomic bombing, their country was under colonial rule. It was later liberated and become an independent country, but continued to face difficulties, such as a lack of national strength and an invasion by communists,” Yoon said during a meeting with 10 surviving South Korean victims in Hiroshima.

“Due to that, the South Korean government and the country were not there when our nationals were suffering in a foreign land… As the president, representing the government and the country, I offer my deep apology for the fact that the nation was unable to be there with our fellow compatriots in their moments of sorrow and pain. I would like to offer my heartfelt condolences once again and convey words of comfort to all of you.”

Yoon met the victims of the atomic bombing on the occasion of his three-day visit to Hiroshima, Japan, Friday, to attend the 2023 Group of Seven (G7) Summit. This is the first time since the country's liberation from Japan's colonial rule in 1945 that a South Korean president met the victims.

The meeting was part of Yoon's attempts to top off months of efforts to normalize Seoul's ties with Tokyo, by attending symbolic events related to the countries' thorny history.

“On Sunday, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and I will jointly pay tribute to the monument of South Korean victims of the Hiroshima atomic bombing,” Yoon said. “This is the first time that the leaders of the two countries will visit the monument together and it is the first time for a South Korean president to pay tribute to it. Again, I apologize to the victims for this happening too late.”

The monument is a 4.5-meter stone tower inside the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. The tower faces the Korean Peninsula.

The exact number of South Korean victims of the Hiroshima bombing remains unknown, but Seoul believes that approximately 30,000 South Koreans died in the Aug. 6, 1945 bombing or afterwards due to burns and side effects from the radiation.

“The joint visit will be a solemn moment for the leaders of the two countries to remember the South Korean victims of war and a chance to reaffirm our commitment towards the two countries' future of peace and prosperity,” Yoon said.

During the meeting, Kwon Yang-baek, a member of the victims' association, said people in the two countries should not dwell too much on the past, but look ahead and make sure such tragedies never happen again.

President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife, Kim Keon Hee, disembark from the presidential jet after landing at Hiroshima Airport, Japan, Friday. Yonhap

Weekend of diplomatic events

Yoon arrived at Hiroshima Airport to begin his three-day visit to the city. During his stay, he will attend the G7 Summit and hold a series of bilateral summits and pull-aside meetings with leaders visiting the Japanese city. South Korea is not a G7 member country, but was invited by Japan, which is the host country of this year's event.

This is the fourth time for Seoul to participate in a G7 summit as an observer country. The last appearance was the 2021 gathering in the United Kingdom. South Korea also took part as an observer in the 2008 and 2009 G7 summits.

During the latest summit, Yoon is anticipated to deliver messages on economic security, coalitions between countries sharing similar values, supply chain resilience and South Korea's expanded role in the international community.

“(Yoon's presence at) the G7 Summit bears significance by strengthening coalitions with partner countries that share core values,” presidential spokesperson Lee Do-woon said.

“At this crucial time of rapid changes in the global order, the meetings with G7 leaders will be a chance to expand our national interests by strengthening international coalitions in the fields of security, economy, industry and others,” he added.

During the G7 Summit, Yoon is forecast to stress South Korea's proactive participation in addressing global challenges, such as food, healthcare, development, gender issues, climate change, energy and environment.

On the sidelines of the G7 event, Yoon will hold summits with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Indonesian President Joko Widodo and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

With the leaders, Yoon is anticipated to discuss industrial cooperation and economic security, given the economic importance of those countries to South Korea.

At the summit between Yoon and Modi, the leaders are expected to celebrate the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations and discuss economic partnerships.

Indian manufacturers are seeking South Korean investments and such deals could be a solution for Seoul's long-standing concern of lowering its reliance on Chinese manufacturers. Modi invited Yoon to New Delhi during last year's Group of 20 Summit.

Yoon is anticipated to discuss similar agendas with Indonesia's leader. During last year's summit, Yoon stressed that Seoul is the optimum partner for Jakarta's “Making Indonesia 4.0” initiative aimed at promoting the Southeast Asian country's manufacturing industry through the use of its rich natural resources.