It's no secret that there's bad blood between Japan and South Korea as memories from their historical tensions linger in the minds and hearts of South Korean people.
As such, with the upcoming 2020 Olympics Tokyo, South Korean Olympic officials have requested that Japan's Rising Sun flag be banned from the event as it is a symbol of Japan's aggression during World War II.
Kim Bo-young, an official from the Korean Sport and Olympic Committee, says the request was made to the Tokyo Organising Committee during National Olympic Committee meetings in the city from Aug. 20 to 22. Tokyo organizers say they will not ban the flag, which portrays a red sun with 16 rays extending outward.
Organizers say “the Rising Sun flag is widely used in Japan; and it is not considered to be a political statement, so it is not viewed as a prohibited item.”
In South Korea and elsewhere in Asia, the flag is widely viewed as a symbol of Japan’s aggression during World War II. The flag is still in use, albeit not widely.
(Image credit: Kyodo/Japan Times)
A navy flag. Flown on ships. That is why sailors are marching with the flag.
Why would a navy flag be flown at the Olympics?
South Korea is confusing WWII war flag with the navy flag. South Korea never complained about the JMSDF flag until 2011.
This story is two weeks old. Why dredge up partially accurate material?
Why is South Korea suddenly making an issue of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force flag?
Why would a navy flag be flown at the Olympics?