Japan foreign minister to attend South Korean President-elect Yoon’s inauguration to mend frayed ties

Yoshimasa Hayashi’s presence next week at Yoon Suk Yeol’s oath-taking ceremony a sign of Tokyo’s will to set a new course in relations

Warming ties between the two US allies would also be a welcome development for President Biden as he seeks their help to counter security threats posed by China

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South Korean President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 1:54pm, 3 May 2022

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is dispatching his foreign minister to attend the inauguration next week of South Korea’s new president, who had been seeking the premier’s attendance as a symbol of putting troubled ties on a more stable course.

Kishida will send Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi to attend the swearing-in ceremony for South Korean President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol, Japan’s Asahi newspaper and other media reported on Tuesday, citing unnamed government sources. Yoon’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comments, adding it does not comment on individual reports.

Jin Chang-soo, an expert on Japan at South Korea’s state-funded Sejong Institute think tank, said that although Yoon’s camp would have rather have Kishida attend, it would still consider Hayashi’s visit as a sign of Tokyo’s will to set a new course in relations.

“Hayashi’s talks with the new South Korean top officials may be the beginning of the two countries mending ties,” Jin said.

Soon after taking office, Yoon will be meeting US President Joe Biden, who will be on a trip to the region from May 20-24 that also takes him to Japan for talks with Kishida.