"Devil's Symbol": Why does South Korea want Japan to ban the flag of the rising sun at the Tokyo Olympics

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South Korea's parliamentary sports committee wants the so-called rising-sun flag to be banned from the Tokyo Olympics next year, as it is seen in South Korea as a symbol of "l & # 39; Imperialism and militarism "Japanese.

But this week, Tokyo 2020 – the organizing committee of the Tokyo Olympics – said the flag would not be banned as it was widely used in Japan.

"The flag itself is not considered a political statement, so it's not considered a banned article," Tokyo 2020 said in a statement.

The decision sparked controversy in South Korea, where An Min-suk, chairman of the parliamentary sports committee, condemned the decision.

"A flag symbolizing the war is not suitable for peaceful Olympics," An An said at a press conference Tuesday.

"The flag of the Rising Sun looks like a symbol of the devil for Asians and Koreans, just as the swastika is a symbol of the Nazis that reminds Europeans of the invasion and the horror."

The Korean Sports and Olympic Committee told CNN on Friday that it had not yet formally requested Tokyo 2020 or the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to ban the flag. CNN requested comments from the IOC on this issue.

The South Korean Foreign Ministry said Thursday that it has expressed regret over the decision through diplomatic channels. Earlier in the week, Kim In-chul, spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry of South Korea, said the Japanese government must recognize its history.

"I think the Japanese government is well aware that the flag of the Rising Sun is considered by neighboring countries as a symbol of (Japanese) imperialism and militarism," Kim said Tuesday., adding that the ministry planned to continue working to change the Tokyo 2020 decision.

The dispute over the flag is in the middle of an ongoing trade dispute between the two countries, which has been raging since July.

Why the flag is offensive to South Koreans

For Japan, the flag of the rising sun is part of its culture. The flag was used by the Imperial Japanese Army and the navy and the country's defense forces still use it to this day.

However, South Korea considers the rising sun flag as a symbol of Japanese imperialism and war atrocities. Those who use the flag often attract the wrath of South Koreans. Last month, for example, Sean Ono Lennon – the son of Yoko Ono and John Lennon – found himself at the center of the controversy after defending his girlfriend for wearing a t-shirt with the flag.

"We may have differing opinions on what the rising sun model represents, but that does not mean that we should be enemies," he said in a message posted on Instagram to respond to indignation. online.

During the first half of the 20th century, the Korean peninsula was colonized by Japan and many Koreans were brutalized, murdered and enslaved. This period is a living memory for older Koreans and continues to be a very sensitive topic in North Korea and South Korea.

Japan and Korea remain stuck in heated debate over statues describing "comfort women" – Korean women forced to provide sexual services to Japanese soldiers before and during World War II – and court rulings Supreme Court of South Korea authorizing citizens to sue Japanese companies for compensation for forced labor.

Although South Korea and Japan signed a treaty in 1965 to address the lingering problems of war, many Koreans believe that this agreement was unfair and believe that it is still possible for individuals to seek legal redress.

Another landmark agreement reached in 2015 saw Japan issue a new apology and pledge $ 8 million to a foundation to support the surviving "comfort women". However, the former "comfort women" rejected it, claiming that they had not been consulted.

In recent months, tensions between the two countries have become an ongoing trade dispute. The confrontation began in July when Tokyo imposed a control on exports to South Korea of three chemicals used especially for the manufacture of computer chips.

Last month, South Korea withdrew Japan from the list of trusted business partners and announced the end of its military sharing agreement with Japan in 2016. Japan then officially removed South Korea from its list of privileged business partners, thus prompting Foreign Affairs to issue a statement qualifying the measure as "unfair" and claiming that it was treated as a "hostile nation" by Japan.

South Korea has warned that the trade dispute could threaten the global supply chain of smartphones and electronic devices.

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