South Korea criticises Japanese officials' visit to Tokyo war shrine

The South Korean government has voiced “deep disappointment and regret” over visits by Japanese officials to a controversial war shrine in Tokyo, urging that any improvement in bilateral ties must be grounded in Japan’s willingness to confront its wartime past, the foreign ministry said on Friday.

The remarks came as Japan commemorated the 80th anniversary of its defeat in World War Two. Thousands of visitors, including at least one cabinet minister, attended Yasukuni Shrine-a site that honours Japan’s war dead but also enshrines convicted war criminals. In its statement, Seoul condemned the shrine as a symbol that “glorifies Japan’s war of aggression and enshrines war criminals,” reiterating long-held concerns that such visits undermine reconciliation efforts in the region.

The ministry urged Japan’s leadership to “squarely face history” and show “humble reflection and sincere remorse” for its past actions, particularly its 1910–1945 colonial rule over the Korean peninsula. Such acknowledgement, Seoul stressed, is “an important foundation for the development of future-oriented relations between the two countries based on mutual trust.”

The latest remarks come ahead of South Korean President Lee Jae Myung’s planned visit to Japan on 23–24 August, during which he is set to hold a summit with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. Lee, who has previously criticised some past Seoul administrations for what he viewed as overly conciliatory approaches toward Tokyo, has recently pledged to continue building cooperation with both Japan and the United States.

By framing its latest protest in the context of historical responsibility, Seoul appears intent on making wartime legacy issues a central factor in shaping future relations, even as both sides seek to strengthen trilateral security ties with Washington amid regional security challenges.

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