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| Members of an anti-Japanese civic group hold a rally in front of a hotel in Seoul, Thursday, in protest of a reception held to celebrate the Japanese Emperor's birthday. Yonhap |
By Lee Hyo-jin
A reception held in Seoul to celebrate the Japanese Emperor's birthday has raised eyebrows, especially after it was reported that the Japanese national anthem ― which is widely considered a symbol of Japan's militaristic past here ― was played during the event.
Hosted by the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, the reception took place at a hotel on Thursday, ahead of the emperor's birthday on Feb. 23. Among the guests who showed up were Korea's Vice Foreign Minister Lee Do-hoon and Sohn Kyung-sik, chairman of the Korea Enterprises Federation.
The annual celebration took place for the first time in three years after it was halted in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the Japanese daily, Sankei Shimbun, during this year's event, Japan's national anthem "Kimigayo" was played for the first time. The Korean national anthem was also played.
"Kimigayo," which translates as "His Imperial Majesty's Reign," served as the anthem of the Empire of Japan from 1868 to 1945. It is seen by many Koreans as a symbol of Tokyo's brutal colonization of the Korean peninsula between 1910 and 1945.
Japanese media reported that until now, Tokyo has refrained from playing the anthem, acknowledging the anti-Japan sentiment in Korea. But it decided to play it this year due to the Yoon Suk Yeol administration's recent moves to improve bilateral ties.
During the reception, anti-Japanese civic activists held a rally in front of the venue. They threw salt and red pepper powder on the ground, protesting against the Japanese embassy.
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