'Symbol of the devil': Why South Korea wants Japan to ban the Rising Sun flag from the Tokyo Olympics
By Yoonjung Seo, Yoko Wakatsuki and Julia Hollingsworth, CNN
Updated 0502 GMT (1302 HKT) September 7, 2019
(CNN) — The organizers of Japan's 2020 Summer Olympics have refused to ban a controversial flag that South Koreans say stirs memories of the violent, brutal life endured under Japanese rule during the early to mid-1900s.
South Korea's parliamentary committee for sports wants the so-called Rising Sun flag to be banned from venues at next year's Tokyo Olympics as it is viewed in South Korea as a symbol of Japanese "imperialism and militarism."
But this week, Tokyo 2020 -- the organizing committee of the Tokyo Olympics -- said that the flag wouldn't be banned as it was widely used in Japan.
"The flag itself is not considered to be a political statement, so it is not viewed as a prohibited item," Tokyo 2020 said in a statement.
That decision has caused controversy back in South Korea, where An Min-suk, the chair of the parliamentary committee for sports, condemned the decision.
"A flag symbolizing war is not suitable for peaceful Olympic Games," An said in a press conference Tuesday.
"The Rising Sun flag is akin to a symbol of the devil to Asians and Koreans, just like how the swastika is a symbol of Nazis which reminds Europeans of invasion and horror."
The Korean Sports & Olympic Committee told CNN Friday that it had not yet made an official request to Tokyo 2020 or the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to ban the flag. In a response to CNN, an IOC spokesperson said sports stadiums should be free of any political demonstration. "When concerns arise at games time we look at them on a case by case basis," the spokesperson said.
South Korea's Foreign Ministry said Thursday it had expressed regret over the decision via diplomatic channels. Earlier in the week, South Korea's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Kim In-chul said the Japanese government needed to acknowledge its history.
"I believe the Japanese government is well aware that the Rising Sun flag is viewed by neighboring nations as a symbol of (Japanese) imperialism and militarism," Kim said on Tuesday, adding that the ministry planned to continue to work to change Tokyo 2020's decision.
The flag disagreement comes amid an ongoing trade spat between the two countries, which has been raging since July.
The Korean Sports & Olympic Committee told CNN Friday that it had not yet made an official request to Tokyo 2020 or the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to ban the flag. In a response to CNN, an IOC spokesperson said sports stadiums should be free of any political demonstration. "When concerns arise at games time we look at them on a case by case basis," the spokesperson said.
South Korea's Foreign Ministry said Thursday it had expressed regret over the decision via diplomatic channels. Earlier in the week, South Korea's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Kim In-chul said the Japanese government needed to acknowledge its history.
"I believe the Japanese government is well aware that the Rising Sun flag is viewed by neighboring nations as a symbol of (Japanese) imperialism and militarism," Kim said on Tuesday, adding that the ministry planned to continue to work to change Tokyo 2020's decision.
The flag disagreement comes amid an ongoing trade spat between the two countries, which has been raging since July＜＜.
