President Lee Jae-myung expressed condolences over the death of former Japan House of Representatives Speaker Yohei Kono.
While on a visit to Italy, the president said on the 11th (local time) on social media that "former Speaker Kono, as a respected elder statesman in Japanese politics, worked to foster reconciliation and build trust with neighboring countries, and played a major role in advancing South Korea–Japan relations."
Referring to the 1993 Kono Statement, the president explained that it was "the first official document to acknowledge the historical facts that, regarding the issue of comfort women, left deep wounds on the honor and dignity of many women, and to set out a heartfelt apology and reflection."
He added, "Former Speaker Kono did not avoid the facts of history but faced them squarely as lessons and expressed the will never to repeat the same mistake," and said, "the courage to reflect on history contained in the Kono Statement and the empathy for victims' pain became an important cornerstone for South Korea and Japan to develop a future-oriented relationship."
He went on to say, "We will cherish the achievements and intentions left by the deceased and work to advance a future-oriented South Korea–Japan relationship based on mutual respect and trust."
Born in 1937, former Speaker Kono died on the 8th. In the 1967 lower house election, he was first elected as a member of the Liberal Democratic Party, inheriting his father's constituency, and was re-elected 14 times in a row thereafter. He served as speaker of the House of Representatives from 2003 to 2009.