WW2-ANNIVERSARY/SOUTH KOREA REAX Abe apology 'not sincere' - South Koreans

Record ID: 144016

  • Title: WW2-ANNIVERSARY/SOUTH KOREA REAX Abe apology 'not sincere' - South Koreans
  • Date: 14th August 2015
  • Summary: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (AUGUST 14, 2015) (REUTERS) STREETS CARS PEOPLE CROSSING ROAD (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) 23-YEAR-OLD SOUTH KOREAN SHIN JAE-GYEOM, SAYING: "I think it is ambiguous to say there is progress just because he used the word "apology". I also think he just made a seeming statement because the behaviour he has been showing until now doesn't reflect true apology and re
  • Embargoed: 29th August 2015 13:00
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  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA5M9QUWN81FWOFPGSFPOI07CF1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Some South Koreans on Friday (August 14) rejected Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's statement in which he expressed his "utmost grief" for his country's behaviour in World War Two.
    In the statement marking the 70th anniversary of the end of the war, Abe acknowledged Japan had inflicted "immeasurable damage and suffering" on innocent people but said future generations of Japanese should not have to keep apologising.
    In Seoul, some felt Abe's words lacked the force of sincerity and were not backed by his actions.
    "I think it is ambiguous to say there is progress just because he used the word "apology" (in the statement). I also think he just made a seeming statement because the act he has been showing until now doesn't reflect true apology and regrets at all," said 23-year-old Shin Jae-gyeom.
    Abe said his country should not forget about "comfort" women from occupied countries - mostly China and Korea - who were forced to work in Japanese military brothels during the war.
    "I feel pity that those comfort women are passing away, one by one. I think what the grannies want is the comfort of heart than material compensation such as money. The true apology saying Japan has done wrongdoings to them should be made when they're still alive," said 27-year-old Lee Eun-hye.
    Others also said the territorial disputes over the history and territory should be solved.
    "If they want to make a sincere apology, they shouldn't teach distorted history. It is nonsense that Japan teaches their students with the wrong facts, persisting that Dokdo is their territory or lavishly speaking about somebody else's territory. I think they should sincerely apologize after teaching the right history," said 36-year-old Kim Min-gyu.
    Abe's statement comes as he pushes for a more robust defence policy through measures domestic critics say violate Japan's pacifist constitution. Public doubts about the bills have triggered a slide in Abe's ratings to below 40 percent.
    The legacy of the war still haunts relations with China and South Korea, which suffered under Japan's often brutal occupation and colonial rule before Tokyo's defeat by the Allies in 1945.
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