President Yoon Seok Yeol s seemingly unmindful behavior continues. The promises of creating a better government are not being kept, and despite being in power for over a year, there is a constant evasion of responsibility by blaming the previous administration. On reliance on foreign powers- dependency on others, the fate of the nation seem entrusted to Japan and the United States, and their leaders. After gaining power, Korea s independence fighters were insulted as communists, and there were even discussions raised about removing the statue of Admiral Yi Sun-sin. The administration seems to turn a blind eye to the discharge of contaminated water from Fukushima, which directly impacts the lives of the public, create a risk of war on the Korean Peninsula, and looks on as national debt increases. All in all, the people s anger grows day by day amid the suffering.
The Aug. 15 speech by President Yoon Suk Yeol has ignited significant discussions. The crux of the matter lies in President Yoon s mention of “communist totalitarian forces disguising themselves under the banners of democracy, human rights and progress.” This has sparked great interest.
In order to raise awareness of North Korea s human rights conditions, various actions by the current government, including the recent release of the Unification Ministry s report on North Korean human rights, have been observed.
In Korea-Japan relations, Korea always compares the attitudes of Japan with post-World War II Germany. While Germany adequately apologized for the past and thoroughly educates new generations about its history, in Japan s case, after the prime minister s apology, Japanese politicians continue to visit the Yasukuni Shrine every year, which honors war criminals. Besides, Germany refers to losing the war as defeat, but Japan refers to its loss as the end of the war.
Recently, as North Korea roamed our airspace with its drones. President Yoon Seok Yeol said, “To achieve peace, we must prepare for an overwhelmingly superior war.” Is he saying that prevention is better than cure? As U.S.-North Korea relations change again and trust between them collapses, it is necessary for us to be prepared for North Korea s self-defense measures that will likely follow.