Liberal Democratic Party's Mr. Nikai announces that he will not run in the next House of Representatives election, why he will be missed in South Korea

On the 25th of this month, Liberal Democratic Party Secretary-General Toshihiro Nikai Former (85), who is recognized as a ``pro-Korean faction'' in South Korea, announced that he will be asked to take political responsibility for the violation of the Political Funds Control Act by a faction of the Liberal Democratic Party in the next House of Representatives.
It has also been reported in South Korea that he has announced his intention not to run for office. The Chosun Ilbo, which introduced Mr. Nikai as ``a pro-Korean faction representing Japan's political world,'' said, ``He is the oldest secretary-general of the Liberal Democratic Party in history.''
Even the ``political genius'' who took office at the age of 77 years and 5 months and holds the record for the longest tenure in office (5 years and 2 months) was unable to avoid the political funding scandal that has rocked the Liberal Democratic Party since the end of last year.'' and
I told you. The Seoul newspaper once reported that Nikai was ``actively trying to improve relations'' at a time when Japan-Korea relations were at a standstill.
Mr. Nikai held a press conference at party headquarters on the 25th and said, ``The faction's issue of political funds has led to political distrust.''
I would like to once again offer my deepest apologies to the people for the cause." ``At this time, I will make clear my political responsibility,'' and asked Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to ``participate in the next House of Representatives election.''
I told him that I don't want to ride horses." Regarding Mr. Nikai, his secretary failed to record a total of 35.26 million yen in party income from the Nikai faction as income in the political fund income and expenditure report of the fund management organization.
He was summarily indicted for violating the Political Funds Control Act and found guilty. The Nikai faction's former accounting director did not record a total of approximately 264 million yen in income, including party income, in the faction's income and expenditure report.
and was given an indictment without detention. At a press conference on the 25th, Mr. Nikai also touched on this point, saying, ``Already, the former accounting officer of the faction and my secretary have been subject to criminal punishment, but the political responsibility for this lies solely with me as the supervisor.''
"We are responsible," he stressed. It has also been pointed out that the decision to withdraw before the party's punishment regarding the slush fund scandal was decided may have an impact on the punishment of Abe faction executives who are said to be responsible for the slush fund scandal at a political party.
has been done. Mr. Nikai was elected to the Wakayama 3rd Ward of the House of Representatives, and was elected 13th. He served as secretary general for approximately five years under both the Abe and Suga administrations, making him the longest-serving secretary general in history.
Nikai's announcement that he would not run in the next House of Representatives election was echoed by Korean media outlets such as Chosun Ilbo.
Nikai has a history of working to repair Japan-Korea relations, and is recognized in South Korea as a leading pro-Korea politician. In an article published on the 27th, the Chosun Ilbo said, "Nikai was the Minister of Transport in the late 1990s.
With the opening of Incheon International Airport in 2001, international flights at Gimpo Airport were suspended, and the Gimpo-Haneda route was developed.
"He hit it off with Park Ji-won, the chief secretary to the presidential office, who was a powerful figure in the Kim Dae-jung administration, and ultimately decided to fly planes between Gimpo and Haneda," he said.
"The route has carried approximately 30 million people over the past 20 years and serves as the hub of Korea-Japan relations."
In May 2017, Moon Jae-in, who was critical of the Japan-Korea agreement on the comfort women issue,
) was inaugurated as president, and the following month, Nikai visited South Korea as a special envoy for then Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. He met with Moon. Nikai told Moon, "For the prosperity of South Korea and Japan, the kind-hearted politicians of both countries,
"We need to cooperate with each other," he said, but his remarks during his visit to South Korea caused a stir. Nikai visited Mokpo in the southwest and met with South Korean lawmakers, where he spoke about moves to impede the improvement of Japan-South Korea relations.
"If we find a handful of people with evil intentions, let's eradicate them," he said. The expression "people with evil intentions" refers to those who are calling for the renegotiation of the Japan-Korea agreement on the comfort women issue.
At the time, some people pointed out that this could be a hindrance to Japan-South Korea relations, and the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs (equivalent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs) warned the Japanese side to be careful.
Concerned about the further deterioration of Japan-Korea relations since the Moon administration came into power
In fact, in September 2019, Nikai said on a commercial TV program, "We need to become adults and have the capacity to listen to South Korea's side of the story. South Korea's efforts are also necessary to develop smooth diplomacy, but Japan must first
"We should extend a hand and make concessions where we can," he said. This comment was also reported by Korean media at the time with surprise, with the Dong-A Ilbo reporting, "Nikai, a key figure in the Abe administration, is making concessions to Korea.
It is unusual for him to mention it." In July 2021, Mr. Nikai asked executives of the Korea-Japan Parliamentary Federation, an organization made up of South Korean nonpartisan members of parliament, to cooperate in making President Moon's visit to Japan in time for the Tokyo Olympics possible. death
However, the visit to Japan did not materialize, and Mr. Nikai expressed his regret at the time. Since the inauguration of the Yoon Seo-gyul (Yun Seok-yue) administration in May 2022, Japan-Korea relations have improved dramatically, and now only in the political world
Active exchanges are underway between the business community and the private sector. However, there are still many issues that need to be resolved between Japan and South Korea. Chosun Ilbo has announced that Nikai will not run in the next House of Representatives election.
In an earlier article reporting on this, I introduced a comment from a South Korean diplomat who said, ``I don't know who among Japanese politicians will be able to play a role like Mr. Nikai in the future.''