President Lee Jae-myung on the 3rd addressed the situation in which diplomatic tensions between China and Japan are escalating into an economic clash, saying, "Taking sides or the like on our part becomes a factor that intensifies the conflict." Marking the first anniversary of the Dec. 3 martial law incident, Lee presided over a foreign press conference at the Blue House state guesthouse under the title "Democracy newly established, the one year," and said, "There is a Korean proverb that says, 'Stop fights and spur bargaining,'" before making the remark.
Lee said, "It is the same for relationships between individuals and between nations, but it is desirable to coexist, respect each other, and cooperate as much as possible," adding, "It is desirable to strive to find common ground and to identify as many areas as possible for cooperation and cooperate." He went on, "Rather than taking sides, it is desirable to find what allows everyone to coexist together, and if there is any area where it is possible, to minimize conflict and, if there is a role to mediate and coordinate, to play that role."
Asked specifically about his vision for Korea-Japan relations, he answered, "Just because someone borrowed my money and defaulted, that doesn't mean we can cut off all ties," adding, "We should resolve the default as its own issue while cooperating where we can." He also said, "If you cut everything off because there's a problem, in the end I'll be left alone and feel lonely," adding, "I think Korea-Japan relations are like that as well."
Regarding the Japanese government's claim to sovereignty over Dokdo, Lee said, "The emotional conflict surrounding Dokdo is not a real-world conflict," adding, "It is clearly Korean territory over which the Republic of Korea exercises effective control, so what does it matter what anyone says about it? In fact, pretending not to notice is the best."
Behind the recent clash between China and Japan was Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's remark on Nov. 7 about "intervening in the event of a Taiwan contingency." The next day, Chinese Consul General in Osaka Xue Zhen posted on social media (SNS) the extreme expression that they would "have no choice but to cut off the dirty neck," sending tensions to a peak. The Chinese government followed up with sanctions including an advisory against travel to Japan, an advisory against studying in Japan, a halt to importing Japanese films, and a renewed suspension of imports of Japanese seafood.