S Korean PM nominee withdraws over pro-Japan remarks

Was he an acquaintance of Park's father?

Goodbye improved Japan-South Korean ties. (Really hope I'm wrong on this)

But Moon has been under fire after media reported that he called Japan’s colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula God’s will and made other controversial remarks in past speeches.

Leave it to the media to discredit someone with good intentions.

The Parks themselves would not be political prominence if it wasn't for the Japanese starting Park Chung-Hee' military career.

On Tuesday, divers retrieved the body of a woman from the sunken ferry, increasing the death toll to 293, a government task force said in a statement. Eleven others are still missing.

Oh yeah, that reminds me of how the S.Korean government refused Japanese offer to help the sinking vessel.

anybody notice that any time park has a domestic crisis, she starts bad mouthing japan? seems to be her entire political platform.

Moon said in a televised news conference Tuesday that his past comments were taken out of context but he’s voluntarily withdrawing so he does not pose a further political burden to Park.

what a gentleman ! not fit for the job as a politician or as PM (!)

and isn't the 'deep bow' he's doing in that photo originally a Japanese custom that was unfortunately transmitted in a wave of cultural contamination during the brutal Japanese colonial imperialist occupation of Korea from 1910 to 1945?

anybody notice that any time park has a domestic crisis, she starts bad mouthing japan? seems to be her entire political platform.

Japanese and Korean voters and politcians are not so different after all.

South Korea PM wanted: One condition only needed: Must hate Japan!!

Pretty sad when being "pro-Japanese" rules one out of public office in Korea.

Moon has been under fire after media reported that he called Japan’s colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula God’s will and made other controversial remarks in past speeches.

it has also been translated as "god's message." but aside from this remark, his other controversial statement was that japan didn't need to apologize for the use of "comfort women." (http://thediplomat.com/2014/06/s-korean-pm-nominee-japans-occupation-was-gods-will/). hmmm, pretty sure most S. Koreans would have to disagree with him about that one.

If you want to be popular in SK you need to be anti-Japan. Way to go for a nation!

Pretty sad when being "pro-Japanese" rules one out of public office in Korea

Sadder yet, it tells everyone, domestically and internationally, that South Korea has no intention of every settling anything with Japan, choosing instead to wallow in self-pity over events and acts decided upon by people long since dead and buried. Shame is what South Koreans should feel for this. Shame.

But Moon has been under fire after media reported that he called Japan’s colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula God’s will.

Based on this from the report, it doesn't really show that he is pro-Japanese but more of delusional. The Japanese occupation of SK and atrocities committed there was done by men and nothing to do with God. It is good that SK keep such person away from seat of authority.

He's a devout Christian. This explains the "God's will" bit. He is/was hoping for reconciliation with Japan. In this, he has my admiration.

Unfortunately, some of the above comments are not exaggerated. Here's a link from a South Korean news source.

http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/Article.aspx?aid=2991062

Koreans will never get over what happened, they don't want to, they enjoy the self pity too much, and the feeling of hate is what they seem to enjoy the most about their day.

"Pretty sad when being "pro-Japanese" rules one out of public office in Korea."

His remarks were totally taken out of context. When you listen to his speeches in their entirety, he's saying that it was God's will to teach Koreans through Japanese savagery. He was comparing Korean sufferings to Israelites' slavery in Egypt. He was also comparing removal of Japanese to the exodus of Israel.

He is definitely not pro-Japanese. His Grandfather even died fighting for freedom from Japanese Imperial Army.

Don't be sad. Be happy!

Many Japanese predict this apology. He saved his own life.

This is just one another example to prove "there is no freedom of speech in ROK".

It seems that the Media are mainly responsible for keeping the poor relations between South Korea and Japan alive, This is true in both countries. China, with their media being government controlled is to be expected. But in the case of these two "democracies" it's a bit ridiculous.

In my experience, Koreans are often puzzled, perplexed, and basically embarrassed when outsiders assume that they truly, deeply hate Japan and wish to do to the Japanese what most Palestinians wish to do to Israelis (i.e. hurt them very badly). But it's incidents like this one that reinforce this perception that hatred of Japan is the basis, the heart and soul really, of the South Korean state.

iWorldJun. 24, 2014 - 02:25PM JST Based on this from the report, it doesn't really show that he is pro-Japanese but more of delusional. The Japanese >occupation of SK and atrocities

Korea was never occupied by Japan, it was annexed. It became part of the Japanese Empire and all Koreans gained Japanese citizenship. And what atrocities are you talking about?

Koreans cant even get together. How can they get friendly whith japan?

Koreans cant even get together. How can they get friendly whith japan?

They want to be friendly with the West, why should friendship amongst themselves and the Jokbaris impede on their effort towards that?

President Park Geun-hye had nominated former senior journalist Moon Chang-keuk to replace the current prime minister who offered to resign to take responsibility for April’s deadly ferry disaster.

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I see it is Korean media sabotaging President Park.

Bowing? Maybe it is another one of Japanese culture Japan copied many many years ago.

South Korea is already something like a cult based on the anti-Japan dogma, while Chinese anti-Japan may be from their political reasons.

S. Korea has blocked Texas Daddy's videos on You Tube. They did not allow Ms. O Sonfa, Korean Japanese professor who has published pro-Japan books, to enter her home country for her nephew's wedding. Needless to say, her books have been banned in S. Korea. A Seoul University professor who stated that Korean comfort women were not sex slaves was criticiaed and beaten severely. Of course, other pro-Japan books have been banned as well.

Vivat, Freedom of Speech !!

Agree with most of the comments above, Korea obviously doesnt want to have improved (if any) ties with Japan.