South Korean perspective on patriotism renewed by President Lee Jae-myung.

"친일하면 3대가 흥한다? 그런 말 이젠 사라져야" (2025.06.06/MBC뉴스)

I saw General Brunson USFK Commander in the second row behind the South Korean war vets in the front row. Looked like he had an earpiece for translation purposes. He seemed to have a look of mild discomfort or restlessness. I'm sure he's become accustomed to being the center of attention, but he wasn't at the June 6, South Korean Memorial Day service. I wonder if he understood this line or concept that appears in video screenshot above. To the US, in general terms, Korean history before 6.25.1950, (the day marked as the beginning of the Korean War) is generally regarded as immaterial. The June 6 memorial occasion was marked by remembrance of Korean independence fighters against Japan, as well as Korean War veterans, police and fire fighting crews who have given their lives, and their families who have also made great sacrifices. Lee honored those who fought for democracy against dictatorships as well. I notice that the ceremony was dignified and simple without the bombast and fanfare of Yoon's public appearances on some National occasions.

This is from a NY Times article on Lee's earlier Inauguration Speech. For some reason not behind the usual paywall:

.South Korea’s New Leader Name Checks North Korea but Not China

On Wednesday, Mr. Lee only made an indirect reference to China: “I will approach relations with neighboring countries from a perspective of national interest and pragmatism.”

Mr. Lee’s predecessor, Yoon Suk Yeol, who was expelled from office in April after his short-lived imposition of martial law, antagonized Beijing by aligning Seoul more firmly with Washington in the strategic competition between the two superpowers. He also won plaudits from Washington for improving ties with Tokyo to make trilateral cooperation possible.

“We can expect tensions if his government doesn’t align with Washington’s approach to China and Japan,” said Duyeon Kim, a Seoul-based fellow with the Center for a New American Security. “Typically, there has been more policy discord between Seoul and Washington when there was a progressive government in South Korea.”

Why does the US always try to minimize Yoon's attempt to install a military dictatorship?

This is from a BBC Korea report on the Memorial Service speech by Lee, apparently published in Korean first. These excerpts from a computer translation.

President Lee Jae-myung attends Memorial Day ceremony... 'We must create a country without the worry of war'

"The reason we commemorate Memorial Day every year is to remember, to record, and to take responsibility," he said. "There are those who willingly offer themselves and sacrifice when our people and our country are in danger."

He continued, "There were independence activists who sacrificed their lives to regain our lost sovereignty, and there were soldiers and young people who went to the battlefield to save their country," and recalled, "There were many people who fought for democracy without yielding to the oppression of dictatorship."

So people who fought against dictatorship are honored among those who made sacrifices on behalf of their country.

The BBC took note of Lee Jae-myung's reference to the mistaken standard imposed from without on Korean politics by outsiders without reference to Korean national interests:

In particular, he said, "The saying that 'if you fight for independence, three generations will perish, but if you collaborate with the Japanese, three generations will prosper' must disappear now," and "We must become a country where sacrifices for the country and community are appropriately rewarded, a country where devotion to all is more honorable than anything else. The Lee Jae-myung government will fulfill its responsibilities and duties," he promised.

The US government, the MIC, the thinktanks etc., just refuse to accept this expression of sovereignty in South Korea. It's not that there can't be some level of cooperation with Japan; it's that South Korea is not going to be subservient to, and "collaborate" with, Japanese (read US) foreign policy goals, that differ from Korean national interests.

Lee is not pro-China, he is pro-Korean Sovereignty as in having an independent foreign policy not made in Washington. He was on record of saying Taiwan issue is not a problem for Korea and Korea shouldn't get involved.

For this reason, US rightwing media labeled him a commie https://t.co/yus6GLMvT8

— Carl Zha (@CarlZha) June 4, 2025

Taiwan historically has been a "gateway" for imperial interference with mainland China. Korea served the same purpose for Japan historically. The Japanese right wing (in the governing LDP) authored the "Indo-Pacific" strategy. Accepting the Indo-Pacific strategy as a condition of US support involves acquiescence to Japan, and a repudiation of Korea's sovereignty, history, and national interest.

Imperial Gateway: Colonial Taiwan and Japan's Expansion in South China and Southeast Asia, 1895ñ1945, Cornell University Press (2022) 2022

edit typos and grammar 정신 없다!