Ruling Party Becoming More Hard-line
The ruling Democratic Party of South Korea renamed its Special Committee on Japan’s Economic Retaliation as Special Committee on Japan’s Economic Invasion. On the other hand, main opposition Liberty Korea Party is extremely wary of opposing the Japanese government.
The ruling party is becoming more and more hard-line with Japan’s economic retaliation predicted to last long. It is in this context that the party renamed its committee. In addition, the ruling party is opposed to Liberty Korea Party’s proposal for dispatching a special envoy.
The opposition party is focusing on diplomatic solutions rather than hard-line responses. The party had a meeting on July 17 and discussed the issue with former Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and former South Korean Ambassador to Japan Shin Gak-soo, professor Chung In-kyo at the Department of International Trade of Inha University, etc.
“The South Korea government is taking advantage of anti-Japanese sentiments without handling Japan’s economic retaliation with diplomatic precision,” Liberty Korea Party Floor Leader Na Kyung-won said at the meeting, adding, “We asked President Moon Jae-in not to come to the front, and yet the Moon Jae-in administration is immersed in the interest of the regime while neglecting national interests.” She went on to say that inciting hatred cannot be any solution and the issue has to be dealt with by narrowing of the gap between a judicial ruling and diplomatic efforts.