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'No Japan' banners scrapped in Seoul district after outcry

64 Comments
By Jung Yeon-je

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64 Comments
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This is more than a protest, it's a national program. How sad and childish

57 ( +63 / -6 )

Hahaha, like husband and wife, sometimes, pain is pleasure.

-38 ( +9 / -47 )

The Japan boycott movement needs to be wholly implemented by citizens of SK who choose to participate. It should not be forced onto anybody, and certainly not be supported by any official body in SK. Taking down the banners was the correct decision.

9 ( +27 / -18 )

They have money to buy 1000 banners and get the permits to hang them; meanwhile, thousands of old people are homeless, walking around, sleeping in alleys in said-district with little to no pension.(barely $150/month)

What a way to be patriotic. Shame on them!

Keep hyping your xenophobia South Korea. Soon, Japan will ask her Citizens and companies to come back home or relocate to South East Asia.

That would be another blow to your economy and your high unemployment rate.

31 ( +46 / -15 )

Government sponsored hate. The word 'pathetic' comes to mind.

I must say I am impressed with the Koreans who opposed it.

53 ( +61 / -8 )

Don't cross the Rubicon...

6 ( +7 / -1 )

@dbsaiya

Don't cross the Rubicon...

The Rubicon was already crossed and this will go on until one of two is out of power, Moon or Abe.

-18 ( +8 / -26 )

This is making things easier for Moon to get cozier with Kim up north all while people's attention is turned towards their "enemy" to the east!

20 ( +25 / -5 )

While the naive and obedient Japaneses are busy following the doctrine of Abe, propagandized by some Japanese media such as Sankei and Yahoo Japan, this clearly shows that S. Koreans can defy the government and the government will kneel down. Was there any single case in the Japanese history that ordinary people defied the Japanese government who subsequently succumbed?

-27 ( +17 / -44 )

Wait... so the signs “all over” the place are not that of a ground swell of citizens but the imposed political postering of a local authority?

The same design signs as the “massive protests”...

That is a shameful and disgraceful thing for any government department or local authority department to be involved in at any time in any country. That is manipulation of the people at the extreme...

Thankfully some of South Korea’s residents have shown that they are still interested in the ideals of democracy, honesty and fairness. Good on them!

29 ( +35 / -6 )

Ok let's look at it this way. Let's try hanging the equivalent banners in the US. Maybe one that says 'No Mexico' in towns near the border to protest illegal immigration.

THERE WOULD BE RIOTS. Anyone who thinks an act like this is ok to be sponsored by any government is clueless.

38 ( +42 / -4 )

Was there any single case in the Japanese history that ordinary people defied the Japanese government who subsequently succumbed?

The Japanese government doesn’t sponsor official national sentiments and campaigns. If it did the people would do the same and protest.

33 ( +39 / -6 )

Just goes to show two things, One is that the anti-Japan sentiment (or at this point, hysteria) is coming from the top down in the South Korean government. And two, that there are still a minority of sane people in South Korea who recognize that this is wrong. These same people would probably object to the resident SK nationalists posting on websites.

28 ( +35 / -7 )

Hahaha, like husband and wife, sometimes, pain is pleasure.

If you're married and your marriage resembles anything like this, it must be a disaster.

this will go on until one of two is out of power, Moon or Abe.

Agree. Hopefully the South Korean people can see Moon for the failure of a leader he has been and opt for someone better.

18 ( +22 / -4 )

Hahaha

-10 ( +0 / -10 )

SJ why the angst against Japan?

Do you spend much time here?

I see people protest and make policy recommendations from NGOs all the time and they do change policy on all kinds of things from ID requirements to recognition of same sex couples in some areas...

Yes there may be some degree of desire for uniformity in Japan and it’s not always positive, no argument here.. but that’s not what we are talking about.. this is about government sponsored political manipulation.. and those South Koreans who were successful in getting this removed have done the right thing.

the government there does something clearly wrong but instead of addressing that it’s what about Japan..

20 ( +24 / -4 )

SJ

Shame on you for not noticing the protest in Japan against Abe that was pro Korea just a few days ago.

Japanese citizens have been very restrained in this dispute with Korea. If they boycott as aggressively as Koreans do you would be in serious trouble my friend.

22 ( +25 / -3 )

@OssanAmerica Today  07:29 am JST

And two, that there are still a minority of sane people in South Korea who recognize that this is wrong.

In any country and in any district, no politician succumb to a minority.

-21 ( +5 / -26 )

@quercetum

The Japanese government doesn’t sponsor official national sentiments and campaigns.

Surely Japan does. Like "Fukushima is safe, let's return to Fukushima and eat Fukushima produce" campaign,

"Liancourt Rocks are Japanese" or "Kuril Islands are Japanese" etc.

If it did the people would do the same and protest.

Japanese people protesting? Japanese never protest.

-23 ( +8 / -31 )

government sponsored political manipulation.. and those South Koreans who were successful in getting this removed have done the right thing.

@NZ - 'Government' as in one 'local council in the Seoul metro region', not the government of SK. But whoever thought it was a good idea and approved it needs to get the sack.

-10 ( +3 / -13 )

Was there any single case in the Japanese history that ordinary people defied the Japanese government who subsequently succumbed?

Flawed logic. Government, any government, do not “succumb” to the defiance of ordinary people.

9 ( +12 / -3 )

@AlexBecu Today  07:36 am JST

Japanese citizens have been very restrained in this dispute with Korea.

Until their leaders order to do it.

-24 ( +6 / -30 )

I am actually encouraged by the fact that 20,000 SK citizens refused to participate in this nonsense.

We need more people like that to counter the lunacy of Moon.

19 ( +23 / -4 )

Samit, that’s just not true protests and street marches are fairly common. Well organized calm and peaceful but common.

23 ( +23 / -0 )

SJ, no, that just not true.

most people are just busy living their lives working hard, probably too long in most cases, they are not an evil army waiting to do Abe’s bidding.

most people actually highly desire Japan to remain out of conflicts and remain a pacifist constitution.. but the neighbors are starting to test that resolve.

20 ( +22 / -2 )

Heckleberry, it may be one council however it ecos the rhetoric coming from the top exactly. They are funded by the people and are government to some degree. The government should have never allowed it or forced removal as soon as they found out about it.

but yes good on those citizens!

12 ( +14 / -2 )

@Samit Basu

Japanese never protest.

Labour unions and political parties protest. Human rights activists, environmentalists, anti-war groups, and groups demanding the closure of US military bases in Okinawa also regularly protest in Japan.

25 ( +26 / -1 )

@SJ

The topic is that the Korean officials did something wrong and the Koreans had to show the authorities that this was taking it too far.

This isn’t about a government “succumbing” to its people or anything related to the Japanese.

If saving face is necessary, yes, the petitioners did well, but to put down the Japanese over a mistake of Korean authorities is unnecessary.

18 ( +20 / -2 )

Japanese people protesting? Japanese never protest.

That's not what the historical record shows. There were massive protests in the past over renewal of the mutual security treaty with the United States.

Violent protests against the construction of Narita Airport went on for years.

Protests against US bases in Okinawa are on going.

There have been very large scale protests against Abe and his plans to revise the Constitution as well as large scale protests again the restart of nuclear power stations.

Hang around Nagatacho or Kasumigaseki and you will see groups of Japanese protesting this, that, and the other thing just about every day of the week.

19 ( +22 / -3 )

in any dispute, the LOSERS howl the loudest.....

12 ( +15 / -3 )

Protest walks through Shibuya and the surrounding areas are common too..

I suspect a lot of the people who comment so strongly about Japan have never been here or not for long.

Its not perfect, or course now, nowhere is, but I don't see any signs of the kinds of evil people are so keen to associate with Japan and its people. They are just getting on with their lives, probably working a little too long, hardly plotting the downfall of the neighboring countries..

Ask the average Japanese person about South Korea you are likely to get a fairly positive response about food, wanting to travel there and some drama or music.

As South Koreans are literally throwing Japanese goods out in protest I saw Japanese people in Japan lining up to by Korean goods from Koreans.. they are just living their lives.

(ok some coward idiots drive around in black vans.. and those kinds of sad people exist everywhere.. but freedom of speech and all that.. but its a tiny tiny minority)

17 ( +18 / -1 )

Its not perfect, of course not, (typo)

4 ( +4 / -0 )

"This boycott should be done on an individual basis, not a government-orchestrated display of anti-Japan sentiment," wrote one petitioner.

Great to see there are still some people that have some common sense over there.

14 ( +14 / -0 )

Japanese people protesting? Japanese never protest.

Deflection and off topic but to answer your comment, the Japanese protest all the time. On Meiji dori and Omotesando I can see or hear them quite often. There are too many protests to list. It is actually quite effective some with politicians resigning as a result.

The bottom line is local authorities do not have the authority to tell people what to buy and what not to buy.

17 ( +17 / -0 )

Ossan, this is the danger of nationalistic thinking though isn't it. All the lack ability to look at all the many factors that make up any problem, the ability to separate one issue from another. Its complex.

I have annoyed as many Japanese people as anti-Japanese in these forums I suspect..

Could Japan be more contrite over the past, yes, but if its important partners won't abide by treaties and rulings it and fosters ill will at almost every opportunity you end up at an impasse.

9 ( +9 / -0 )

Another added: "Japanese tourists are not our enemies."

LoL how hypocritical...we can boycott them, but we will happily provide our services to the enemy for their money. If they had any self respect, they would be hanging the signs in their own store fronts in a unified form of protest!

11 ( +13 / -2 )

There is saying, the winners focus on winning the losers focus on the winners. That saying fits Japan and South Korea to a key. Japan is focus on winning, South Korean is focus Japan. Let South Korea boycott Japan all they want, the market is too small anyway. Case in point, Uniqlo. Yes, Uniqlo is hurting in South Korea, but so what? They are booming everywhere else. They just opened two new stores in India. A country with 1 billion people and they plan another round of Kaws t-shirts. So who needs South Korea?

7 ( +13 / -6 )

Wallace Fred, Here is the thing Im not sure its out and out racism, things were going generally in the right direction with South Korea until this all started up again..

You don't think that South Korea has any responsibility in this?

6 ( +6 / -0 )

It might seem crazy what I'm 'bout to say

Sunshine she's here, you can take a break

Korea is off the white list

With the air, like I don't care, baby, by the way

(Because Japan is happy)

Clap along if you feel like a Japan without a Korea

Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth

(Because Japan is  happy)

Clap along if you know what happiness is to you Japan without Korea

(Because Japan is happy)

Clap along if you feel like that's what you wanna do

Here comes bad news for Korea

Well, Japan is give Korea all japan got, Japan not going to hold  back

Well, I should probably warn ya, I'll be just fine (Yeah!)

No offense to you, but Korea is a waste of Japan’s time,

Because Japan is happy

Clap along if you feel like a Japan without a Korea

Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth

(Because Japan is  happy)

Clap along if you know what happiness is to you Japan without Korea

Because Japan is happy

Clap along if you feel like that's what you wanna do

Nothing can bring Japan down

Korea is going down.

Moon is a dumb clowns

Tear the stupid statue down

Because Japan is happy

Clap along if you feel like a Japan without a Korea

Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth

(Because Japan is  happy)

Clap along if you know what happiness is to you Japan without Korea

Because Japan is happy

Clap along if you feel like that's what you wanna do

let it stand moderator If you let the following stand:

"While the naive and obedient Japaneses are busy"

-7 ( +7 / -14 )

most people are just busy living their lives working hard, probably too long in most cases, they are not an evil army waiting to do Abe’s bidding.

Exactly how the LDP wants them; docile and unaware of what's happening in the world beyond the propaganda pumped into them while they are catatonic after a 13 hour day...

Japan doesn't influence it's citizens? Ha! Tell me another joke...

0 ( +9 / -9 )

The Japanese government doesn’t sponsor official national sentiments and campaigns. If it did the people would do the same and protest.

You've clearly never seen Japanese textbooks.

2 ( +9 / -7 )

It tells you something that the usual anti-Japan crowd here would down vote anyone that supports these South Koreans being vocal against these inane protests.

They care little about common sense and decency, and revel in South Koreans protesting against and hating Japanese people in general. Showing their true colors as always, supporting a lunatic like Moon and his demagoguery.

8 ( +11 / -3 )

South Korea looking more like North Korea.

5 ( +9 / -4 )

This is just so immature and childish. The difference is, Japanese old politicians and rightwingers are the ones who are fueling this feud, the public don't really care and still embraces Korean goods, food and people. I open my fridge this morning and my partner (who is a Japanese) new stock of Kimchi again for this week. I don't see banners on streets encouraging people to hate Koreans. Unlike in SK, Everyone is fuelling the hate , even ordinary people and children! Not all but I noticed that many South Koreans love to hate. Even in my country they are snob and hateful.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

"This boycott should be done on an individual basis, not a government-orchestrated display of anti-Japan sentiment," wrote one petitioner

WELL SAID!

Good to know some Koreans have common sense and decency.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

I enjoy going to Korea. They understand Japanese very well in general.

-4 ( +4 / -8 )

Seven out of ten Koreans hate Japan... That's because the government incites the hatred in parliament, school, and books. Meanwhile in Japan, free of hate. Who is happier? The one with hate or the one without? Then think what SK government is really doing to its citizens.

9 ( +10 / -1 )

I’m a neutral but South Korea disappoints me immensely. Japan closed the compensation case, the Korean government kept the money. The Japanese government quite rightly considers it case closed (how many times will South Korea otherwise come back). That said, the Japanese firms themselves should, minimum as a gesture, pay some compensation privately to whatever trust there may be set up.

As for the behavior of South Korean stars etc, disgraceful. Ripping up plane tickets, inciting hate, really very childish actions that are seeds of hatred.

I’m a consumer. I had intended a 4 day weekend with my family in South Korea, but this is so against what I stand for that I have chosen to take my family to Taiwan for a short break instead. This is my quiet means of protest.

9 ( +11 / -2 )

They should rather be putting up nice banners with the faces of the 3 Kims.  Manchurian Candidate Moon finally showing his programming.

Surprised 7 out of 10 S Koreans have negative feelings about Japan.  Maybe its just the people I meet and work with, but I have never heard bad words said about Japan.  If anything just the opposite.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Surprised 7 out of 10 S Koreans have negative feelings about Japan.

I wouldn't take those polls seriously, especially without knowing the exact questions asked, how they were asked, the context of the question, and who they asked. Just mere propaganda otherwise.

I am sick of people here and there trying to cause war. They should be ashamed of themselves. And yes, I am talking about certain commenters here as well.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Meanwhile in Japan, free of hate. Who is happier? The one with hate or the one without? Then think what SK government is really doing to its citizens.

And it's this sad state of affairs that makes one shake their head in disbelief.

Heres a few examples all from a simple search. Try and it sometime.

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2018/06/03/commentary/japan-commentary/face-reality-racism-japan/

https://as.ucpress.edu/content/55/4/715

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgvfMHYYv2E

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Nationalism continues to create ignorant. Worry about Korea's real problems and don't make up stories to distract attention. Japan has already apologized, let history serve to not repeat mistakes, not as an excuse to create hate.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

I think most people that initially were on the fence regarding this issue is starting to see how pointless and petty this endless Japan bashing has become, it is no longer about Japan’s actions, but rather South Korea’s childish and petulant display.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

If the Japanese start to boycott K-Pop, the South Korean music industry is sunk. South Korea needs to grow up and cease this hatred of Japan and the Japanese.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Japan moves a finger, whole South Korea throw a fit. This only shows how much influence Japan has over South Korea. I don't like Abe, didn't vote for his party last election, but I like that they don't back down over their decision on this matter.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Even common Koreans think such boycott is pathetic.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

@Funko Toyoda

Japan has already apologized

Then repeatedly recanted with subsequent denials.

let history serve to not repeat mistakes

This requires remembering history in order not to repeat it. Yes, History education is strong in Korea, perhaps too strong, but Japan has a government organized amnesia program in order to forget, deleting accounts from pages of Japan's history books while remembering only "the good times", circa 1939.

@Mitsuo Matsuyama

Even common Koreans think such boycott is pathetic.

No, 80% of Koreans are doing boycotts themselves right now, but it is the issue of by whom to whom.

The current Korean boycott is by ordinary people aimed at Japan's policy makers.

There is no point in making it uncomfortable for Japan visitors, as ordinary Japanese aren't the enemy.

-6 ( +0 / -6 )

You can be sure the 20,000 work in the travel and tourism industry.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The current Korean boycott is by ordinary people aimed at Japan's policy makers.

Right. Ordinary people carrying government supplied signs in cities with government supplied banners hanging from every light post. Those ordinary people.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Japan is done with apologies and compensation.

-You can't force a country to be your friend.

-You can't force a country to be a good neighbor.

S. Korea doesn't want to be friends. They want a relationship of bashing Japan, and only the Japanese to care about the relationship, alliance, to care about security or economic relations, Koreans can focus 100% on historical issues nothing else matters.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Wow, the Korea government put out a boycott Japan banners?! The government? What a freaking mess the leadership of that country is. Barbarians. Uncouth. Clueless.

Real quality leadership there, stoking the citizens into a frenzy and making things worse instead of trying to fix them. They’ve been taking lessons from the Chinese government.

It’s pretty pathetic. To think these people are adults. They’re acting like primary school children.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

While the naive and obedient Japaneses are busy following the doctrine of Abe, propagandized by some Japanese media such as Sankei and Yahoo Japan, this clearly shows that S. Koreans can defy the government and the government will kneel down. Was there any single case in the Japanese history that ordinary people defied the Japanese government who subsequently succumbed?

What a wonderful Utopia is Korea, wonder how those Japanese people cope with their existence./s

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Bedides been saddened, one cannot feel but disgusted and shameful of and for the Korea government and those people who back such action.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

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