On the first day of a two-day visit to Japan for the Korea-Japan summit, President Lee Jae-myung met with Overseas Koreans in Japan on the 23rd. President Lee noted, "It is said that it is the first time in history for the President of Korea to visit Japan as a country for a bilateral (summit) meeting," adding, "It is even more meaningful to have met the compatriots as the first official event of this significant visit." Typically, the first country for bilateral summits for previous presidents has been the United States. President Lee is the first to visit Japan before the U.S. for a bilateral meeting.
That afternoon, a meeting with Overseas Koreans was held at a hotel in Tokyo, attended by President Lee and First Lady Kim Hye-kyung, along with more than 200 Overseas Koreans. In his encouraging speech, President Lee said, "As we commemorate the 80th Liberation Day recently and recall the noble sacrifices of our patriots, it is particularly the Overseas Koreans who come to mind," adding, "The YMCA auditorium where the Declaration of Independence was announced on Feb. 8 and Hibiya Park where the independence movement took place are all nearby. It feels as if the traces of the spirited lives of our compatriots are deeply embedded in various places in downtown Tokyo."
President Lee stated, "In this tortuous history of Korea, marked by pain, struggle, overcoming, and growth, there has been the dedication and sacrifice of our compatriots at every turn," and added, "When I hear stories of those who endured arduous labor while crossing the sea on a government charter ship, my respect for them arises naturally." He further remarked, "Our government will always remember and honor the patriotism of those compatriots who have displayed shining patriotism and will ensure to repay that."
President Lee referenced the 'Overseas Koreans spy fabrication' case that occurred in past administrations, saying, "Many Overseas Koreans truly suffered as victims of unfair spy fabrication cases throughout our great democratization journey." President Lee mentioned, "There are some individuals I have met directly. As the President of Korea, I sincerely express my condolences to the victims and their families who suffered from the state violence of Korea, and I officially apologize once again," bowing his head in apology. The attendees at the meeting responded with applause.
President Lee said, "I will never forget the terrible history that unfolded a century ago along the Arakawa River and the spirits of the remains scattered across Japan who still cannot return to their homeland," and promised, "I pledge to do my utmost to create a nation that is truly a country where no inhumane state violence occurs and where the safety of the people's daily lives is protected."
He continued, "I believe that a new history of Korea-Japan relations, where the people of both countries share a heart of trust and enrich each other's lives, is a brilliant achievement made by you, our compatriots," adding, "It is because you play the role of a bridge between the two countries without wavering that I am confident that Korea and Japan will achieve even greater cooperation based on stronger mutual trust in the future."
He also urged participation in overseas voting on multiple occasions. According to presidential spokesperson KANG Yu-jeong, President Lee concluded his remarks by stating, "I aim to create a beautiful society centered on humanity," and added, "I urge Overseas Koreans to actively participate in voting as the rightful owners of Korea." He also mentioned, "I will work to alleviate the difficulties and hardships faced by compatriots in voting."