Japanese media has sparked significant controversy by criticizing the reduced size of South Korea’s delegation for the 2024 Paris Olympics, claiming it symbolizes a sinking South Korea. In response, Professor Seo Kyoung Duk from Sungshin Women’s University labeled this anti-Korean commerce.
According to Japan’s Yukan Fuji, prominent far-right figure Katsumi Murotani published an op-ed yesterday titled “South Korea, with little coverage of the Paris Olympics, sends a delegation that is only 60% of its Tokyo Olympic size, with women’s handball as the only team event.”
In his column, Murotani argued, “As the Olympics approach, global media extensively covers their athletes’ performances. However, South Korean media is reducing the delivery of the trend of the Paris Olympics when they were proud of being a sports powerhouse.”
The South Korean delegation for this Olympics will consist of 144 athletes, about 60% of the 232 participants in the Tokyo Olympics in 2020. Murotani criticized this: “The Paris Olympics symbolizes a sinking Korea.”
He noted that three years ago, during the Tokyo Olympics, South Korean media was frantic about visiting radiation-affected Japan months before the opening. Still, there are no prominent previews or introductions to the venues this time.
He sarcastically questioned whether the focus had shifted from “barbaric” Japan to “cultured” France, which he implied deserved more respect.
Seo remarked that Murotani, who made these comments, is known for promoting anti-Korean sentiment through numerous inflammatory remarks and contributions. He suggested that this column merely reflects the current state of Japan’s far right.
He particularly emphasized that the far-right’s inferiority complex toward South Korea is growing daily. He warned that their distorted sense of patriotism could worsen relations between the two countries, urging them to exercise restraint.