Suspected "Abe Apologizing Statue" appeared in South Korea, Japanese netizens criticized South Korea for being too naive
[Global Times Reporter Chen Yang] The statue of suspected Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe kneeling and apologizing to the "comfort woman" appeared in a private botanical garden in South Korea, causing further disturbances in the diplomatic relations between Japan and South Korea. According to Japan’s "Asahi Shimbun" report on the 28th, a private "Korean Botanical Garden" in Pyeongchang, Gangwon-do, South Korea placed a statue of a girl symbolizing a "comfort woman". In front of the statue of the girl, she was suspected to kneel and apologize. Statue of Abe. The work was named "Eternal Atonement". Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said at a press conference on the 28th: “If the report about the erection of statues in the botanical garden is true, it will definitely have an impact on Japan-South Korea relations.”
In an interview with the Asahi Shimbun, the director of the "Korean Botanical Garden" Jin Changyeol said, "Although there are many statues of'comfort women' girls in South Korea, I think if one can be placed in front of the statues of'comfort women' girls for apology. The person responsible for this will be better.” However, Jin Changyeol also said that the man kneeling in front of the statue of the “comfort woman” girl was not designed specifically for Abe. This person “can be the girl’s father or you can think of it. In addition, Jin Changyeol also said that the two statues were completed in 2018, but the botanical garden has been closed due to fire. The Botanical Garden originally planned to hold an unveiling ceremony for the statue on August 11, but the ceremony has now been suspended.
This sculpture has been widely debated on social networks in Japan and South Korea. Many Japanese netizens criticized South Korea's approach as naive. In South Korea, there are two different voices. Some Korean netizens believe that "Although the statue is not large, all citizens should cherish it, and forget that the past nation has no future." "It is best to place the statue of Abe kneeling on the ground in Seoul. In front of the Japanese Embassy.” However, some South Korean netizens thought: “The important thing is to let Japan admit the facts and formally apologize. Such a statue is meaningless, it just belittles its own behavior.” “It is impossible for Abe to see this statue. An apology, on the contrary, will cause diplomatic friction, and even the kind Japanese will be dissatisfied."
The South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated on the 28th that the so-called "Abe Apologetic Statue" in the private botanical garden must follow the diplomatic practice of courtesy of foreign leaders. South Korean Foreign Ministry spokesperson Jin Incheol said that countries around the world should follow the principle of international courtesy and pay attention to international etiquette to foreign leaders. There is a view that the government's talk of diplomatic practices in regard to statues set up by private individuals on private land is a bit excessive. In this regard, Jin Renche said that it is necessary to study what measures can be taken against items on private land in accordance with relevant laws and regulations.