Kang Chang-il, the new ambassador to Japan, went to Japan today (22nd). Upon arrival, at the meeting with reporters, he used the title “His Majesty”, not “Emperor”. There is a view that it is trying to improve relations with Japan, but criticism is also coming out that there is a distance from the sentiment of the people.
This is Lee Han-gil reporter.
[기자]
Kang Chang-il, the new ambassador to Japan, arrives at Narita Airport in Japan.
In the process of answering questions about when reporters will meet with Prime Minister Suga or Foreign Minister Motegi, the Emperor is called’The Emperor’.
[강창일/주일대사 : 그다음에는 천황폐하께 가서 신임장 받아야 하는 것 아닌가?]
The Korean government has been using’Emperor’ as the official term instead of’Emperor’ in diplomatic seats since 1998, when President Kim Dae-jung was held.
The expression’His Majesty’ was also often used by previous presidents, but it is still far from the public sentiment.
In the past, Ambassador Kang visited the Kuril Islands, the four islands in the north that Japan was sensitive to, along with the expression of “the Emperor of Japan,” and even said that the Japanese right-wing camp should reject Agreman, which is the consent process of the other country.
In order to alleviate such opposition in Japan, he may have deliberately chosen the title of His Majesty the Emperor.
In fact, after being appointed Ambassador to Japan, Ambassador Kang also said, “If I am appointed Ambassador, I will call you Emperor.”
An analysis also comes out as an active gesture to restore relations with Japan.
[강창일/주일대사 : 양국이 우호협력 증진, 국교 정상화를 위해서 최선의 노력을 다하겠습니다.]
Earlier, President Moon Jae-in also sent a forward-looking message to Japan, saying that he was’perplexed’ about the judgment on comfort women on the 18th.