Stone Buddha statue was looted by Koreans from a Japanese temple in 2012.
Turns out the statue was actually made in Goryeo (Korea) in the 13th century and it was looted by marauding Japanese pirates sometime before the 15th century.
Korean regional court originally ordered it installed back in the Korean temple from which it was originally installed, but a recent supreme court ruling ordered the statue be returned to Japan as it was stolen unlawfully.
Korean left is naturally having a field day with this calling it a ruling succumbing to colonialist Japan.
Other Koreans condemn looting and seem to be more in line with the supreme court ruling.
A lot of Koreans though are finding it hilarious how we’re looting and re-looting each other over the span of centuries 😂.
10 comments
From what you’ve written, it seems like there are many different opinions coming from Koreans, rather than an average one.
Japanese people are also the same. There are many opinions, not an ‘average’ one.
Looking for an ‘average’ take on a subject can only lead to more generalization, and more conflict and misunderstandings.
Well there are definitely going to be some nationalists going to capitalize on this and go “Well see, this is why we can’t trust Korea”.
But I’m sure most don’t care or weren’t even aware of such an issue.
I’m sure most don’t care about some Buddhist statue that they don’t know the value of.
This kind of stuff has long been settled by the international community. That doesn’t mean it’s the right way of doing it though and there is a John Oliver video about it.
Maybe 3% of the people would be angry at Koreans for the looting, 7% would be happy that we got this thing back, and 90% wouldn’t know this is happening or don’t care whatsoever
Many of average Japanese are not interested in politics and this kind of thing. They are busy for working, going to school or caring their children.
If Japan truly wants better relation with Korea they would officially give back that statue to Korea.
This matter does not even need to be discussed as a Japan-Korea relationship.A country that takes without permission for its own use, without observing international treaties, what is at present the property of another country, will not be trusted.Such a country will only prevent other countries from loaning them important cultural assets.
* If you rent to Korea, won’t you get it back? World Countries Reject “Cultural Property Rental” to South Korea = South Korean Net Reacts
https://www.recordchina.co.jp/b568316-s0-c100-d0058.html
(This is an article in Japanese. You can read it if you translate it)
Maybe they should just split it in half
Japanese here. Not really too fussed.
Tbh one bad thing doesnt justify another bad thing. The official way with a court ruling for the statue to be returned to Korea is the better one. Pirates stole it. Why would you lower yourself down to that and do the same