By Yoon Sojung

A petition was launched on Sept. 24 on the White House petition website "We the People" urging a ban on the use of Japan's "rising sun flag" at next year's Tokyo Summer Olympics.

Urging both Japan and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to prohibit the use of the flag for symbolizing Japan's wartime past, the petition received more than 100,000 signatures within a month of its filing, thus the White House must make an official response to it.

Chad Tanner, the American who initiated the petition, is strongly interested in not only the flag but also other issues related to Korea-Japan ties.

Since opening his YouTube channel in 2015, Tanner has uploaded videos on Korean history such as the "comfort women," or women forced into sexual slavery by the Japanese military during World War II, and the bilateral row over Korea's easternmost island of Dokdo. Recently he put up ads on the sexual slavery victims and Dokdo at Times Square in New York.

Korea.net on Nov. 12 had an email interview with Tanner to learn more why he launched the petition and his thoughts on Korea-Japan relations.

- You seem to know a lot about conflicts between Korea and Japan apart from the rising sun flag, such as Japan's past sexual slavery of Korean women. Why are you so interested in these issues?

I've been very connected to Korea since the time I first lived there from 2007-09. And I've been so thankful for all the positive things that have come into my life because of Korea. When I learned about the sexual slavery of Korean women, I was shocked. And it made me wonder why I hadn't heard about this before. I felt disappointed that I hadn't learned earlier about these issues. I think that our future is determined by how we learn from the past. Unfortunately, I don't think Japan wants anyone to remember (its) past. (Its) response to these issues is frustrating to me because it is disrespectful to those who suffered and because we have to learn from past mistakes, not pretend like they didn't happen.

- What initially stoked your interest in the debate over the rising sun flag? 

I was very surprised to learn that Japan and the IOC would not oppose the use of the rising sun flag, a symbol of the war of aggression of Japanese colonial rule, at the Tokyo Olympics. The Olympics is a place where we come together from all over the world to celebrate peace and unity. I felt that firsthand at the Olympics in PyeongChang. And I feel that the rising sun flag is going to take away from that experience for people all over the world as it symbolizes Japan's war of aggression. The rising sun flag will hurt the true spirit of the Olympics.

- Your petition awaits an official answer from the White House after receiving more than 100,000 signatures. Did you expect so many people to support your cause?

I hoped that people would and I knew it was possible, but I wasn't sure it would happen. But I'm grateful we can bring attention to this issue.

If the White House agrees with the petition, then hopefully the IOC will change (its) stance. If the IOC does not change (its) position or the White House does not give a positive response, then there is more work to be done. The Olympics start in July, so there is still time. I have some ideas to bring more attention to the issue that I am working on now. I hope we can make a change.

- This year on Aug. 21, you had an ad put up on Korean sovereignty over Dokdo Island and the sexual slavery issue at Times Square billboards in New York. How did people react after seeing the ad? 

The ad itself was made with the goal of getting people to learn more about both those issues as Japan has been denying issues involving both the comfort women and Korea's Dokdo Island. So I think there was some intrigue and curiosity by those that saw it, and hopefully a desire to learn more. This is because after posting the video, an American friend of mine said she was so surprised she hadn't heard about these sexual slavery victims and felt we should do more in our schools to teach this.

arete@korea.kr