Presidential Office's ”Japan's feelings are important” remarks spark controversy in South Korea

The South Korean presidential office has issued an explanation following controversy over comments made by Kim Tae Hee, first vice director of the National Security Office, about "Japan's feelings."
In an interview with a TV program, Kim said, "When it comes to historical issues, Japan just shakes its head and doesn't say what is necessary.
In response to Kim's remarks, the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea said, "Deputy Director Kim is in line with the national outlook of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration.
Regarding this, a high-ranking official in the South Korean presidential office told reporters, "Deputy Director Kim 'understands Japan's feelings.'
"His statement that 'we need to thoroughly analyze the situation' is easy to sympathize with if you understand the context properly."
He continued, "Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Korea and Japan in 1965, Japan has been involved in dozens of
"There has been an official apology from the government for its colonial rule," he said. "There is a growing sense of fatigue about such apologies, and the Yoon administration has not been proactive in expressing its opinions on the necessary historical issues between Korea and Japan.
"We are continuing to make efforts to resolve the issue through confrontation," he said. The official added, "However, the Korea-Japan and Korea-US relations, which are opening up a new era in tandem with the historical issues, are also important to Korean companies and the Korean people.
"We should also appreciate that it is a factor in the various benefits and opportunities that it brings," he said.
"I want to build a Korea-Japan relationship based on confidence, by evaluating our benefits together and not ignoring them so that our young people can approach Japan with confidence," he said.
I would like you to understand this as meaning that we should build a relationship with them."