Former Japanese PM offers heartfelt apology

“As a former prime minister, as a Japanese citizen and as a human being, I am here today to offer my sincere apologies, from the bottom of my heart, to those who were tortured and were killed here.”

Former Japanese Prime Minister Hatoyama Yukio (鳩山由紀夫) knelt in front of a monument stone set up in honor of the sacrifices made by independence activists during colonial times (1910-1945) at the Seodaemun Prison History Hall in Seodaemun-gu, central Seoul, on Aug. 12.



The former prime minister removed his shoes, observed a moment of silence and made a deep bow in honor of the colonial-era independence activists. He then moved on to visit the former prison cell where Ryu Gwansun (1902-1920), a female independence activist, was imprisoned. There, the former prime minister paid his respects and apologized to the deceased independence activist with his hands held together.

He also urged current Prime Minister Abe Shinzo (安倍晋三), who is scheduled to make a statement to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of World War Ⅱ in the Pacific, to make a sincere apology, too.

“Japan should realize historical facts, as it caused tremendous suffering to the people of many countries in the past, including China and Korea, a nation that was under its colonial rule. Any Abe Statement must express remorse and apologize to these nations,” he said.

The former Japanese leader also wrote in the guestbook words of hope that all the fallen souls may rest in peace.

This is the first time that a former Japanese prime minister visited the Seodaemun Prison History Hall, a site that keeps alive the records of acts of brutality committed by Japanese imperialism.



By Wi Tack-whan, Sohn JiAe
Korea.net Staff Writers
Photos: Yonhap News
whan23@korea.net