South Korea Expresses Deep Regret Over Japanese Leaders' Offerings and Visits to Yasukuni Shrine

The South Korean government has strongly criticized Japanese political figures for making ritual offerings and visiting the Yasukuni Shrine.

In a spokesperson's commentary, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, "The government cannot hide its deep regret that responsible political figures in Japan have once again repeated anachronistic acts oblivious to history, such as making offerings to or visiting the Yasukuni Shrine, which glorifies Japan's past aggressive wars and enshrines war criminals."

The ministry added, "The government strongly urges Japan's responsible leaders to face history squarely and demonstrate humble introspection and genuine remorse for past history through action, emphasizing that this is a crucial foundation for building future-oriented South Korea-Japan relations based on bilateral trust."

Today (August 15), which marks South Korea's Liberation Day and Japan's WWII defeat anniversary, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi paid for and made a ritual offering at the Yasukuni Shrine using her own money.

She did so in her capacity as the leader of the Liberal Democratic Party rather than as Prime Minister.

Four incumbent cabinet members—Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, Minister for Okinawa and Northern Territories Affairs Hitoshi Kikawada, Economic Security Minister Kimi Onoda, and Minister for Economic and Fiscal Policy Minoru Kiuchi—visited the Yasukuni Shrine.

Members of the bipartisan Japanese lawmakers' group "Association of Diet Members Joining Together to Visit Yasukuni Shrine" and the LDP's "Association for Conservative Unity" also visited the shrine this morning.

Sohei Kamiya, leader of the right-wing Sanseito party, and Naoki Hyakuta, leader of the Conservative Party of Japan, also visited the Yasukuni Shrine.

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.