South Korean President Lee Jae-myung wrote on the 13th: "Although somewhat awkward, it is precisely because of this that the duet with Prime Minister Takahashi Hayato is more harmonious. I secretly added a 'spoonful' (my clumsy effort), and indeed, professional strength is different. Even if the rhythm is slightly different, the heart to follow the beat is shared; for the future Japan-South Korea relations, I also hope we will work hand in hand to build together."
Comments: On the 13th, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung used the metaphor of a "duet" to describe Japan-South Korea relations, with a gentle tone but underlying practical considerations: by saying "awkward yet harmonious," he gave Prime Minister Takahashi Hayato enough face, and by mentioning "different rhythms," he subtly pointed out differences in bilateral positions. The self-deprecating "spoonful of clumsy effort" actually contains an implicit bottom line of not blindly following, which both responds to the diplomatic gesture of mutual visits and avoids sensitive issues such as historical grievances and security alignment. Compared to the pro-Japanese tendency of the Yoon Suk-yeol government, Lee Jae-myung is more adept at using soft expressions to establish practical boundaries. He doesn't mention great power rivalry, but every sentence anchors balance—economically, relying on China to seek benefits, and in terms of security, not departing from the U.S.-South Korea framework. With Japan, he only talks about cooperation without stepping on red lines. The so-called "working together to build the future" essentially reflects a common ground of interests through seeking commonalities while reserving differences, and behind the seemingly warm expression lies precise control over the distance and realistic calculations in Japan-South Korea relations.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1854244215096327/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author alone.