Kim Min-seok meets Japanese ambassador: “We must not forget the past, but build the future”

[Financial News] Kim Min-seok, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, met Koichi Mizushima, Japan’s ambassador to South Korea, on the 15th and stressed the need for cooperation to develop future-oriented relations between South Korea and Japan.
Kim met with Mizushima at the National Assembly that day and said, “It is important for relations between the two countries to value the present and build the future without forgetting the past.”
Kim recounted a past phone call with former Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono, saying, “I said we would continue to respect diplomatic continuity alongside historical principles,” and added, “I think the same way now as I did then.” He went on to mention shuttle diplomacy between the South Korean and Japanese leaders since Lee Jae Myung took office as president, as well as expanded people-to-people exchanges between the two countries. He said they were “bringing to life the desirable vision for South Korea-Japan relations agreed upon and envisioned in the 1998 Kim Dae-jung–Obuchi Declaration.”
In response, Mizushima said, “South Korea, which shares common values such as democracy, a market economy and the rule of law, is an important neighboring country with which we should work together to address the many challenges facing the international community,” adding, “I will work to deepen future-oriented and stable relations between South Korea and Japan.” He also congratulated Kim on becoming party leader, noting his extensive connections in Japanese political circles.
A large number of Japanese media correspondents also attended the meeting that day, showing keen interest. This was because Kim is a prominent pro-Japan politician with longstanding ties to Japanese political circles, as well as a key figure in the ruling camp who served as prime minister. In particular, Kim is reportedly being mentioned in some Japanese political and media circles as a potential next presidential candidate, and this is believed to have further heightened interest on the Japanese side.

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