도쿄 올림픽 욱일기 허용...LA 스타디움에 남부연방기 내건 것과 같아 The International Olympic Committee has said recently that it does not plan to stop Japanese fans next year at the Games in Tokyo from flying the so-called Rising Sun flag, a symbol highly offensive to people throughout Asia whose countries suffered under Japanese imperialism.
The IOC, so far, has said simply that the Olympics should be free of political statements, and that the flag itself is not inherently political.
Our Kim Bo-kyoung takes a closer look at the issue.
To people in China, Korea and other countries in Asia, the Rising Sun flag was the symbol of the Japanese Empire as it took over their countries in whole or part in the early 20th century.
According to Alexis Dudden,... a historian in the University of Conneticut,... it is both unnecessary and unfortunate to see this flag still used by Japan's self-defense forces, some sports fans and right-wing political groups.
She compared the use of the Rising Sun to the Confederate flag in the U.S., flown by the South in the American Civil War.
Like the Rising Sun, she said, the Confederate flag is now discredited not only because that side lost the war,... but also because it causes deep pain and suffering to descendents of the victimized.
In her opinion, the IOC should reconsider allowing the Rising Sun flag next summer in Tokyo.
"It really is incumbent on the IOC to learn why this hurts so much. I mean, imagine this Los Angeles stadium Olympics full of American confederacy flags. That would be terrible."
In fact, the design Japan has chosen for next year's medals at the Paralympics... feature elements that strongly resemble the Rising Sun, which Professor Dudden thinks is intentional.
“I find it deeply unfortunate that the Paralympic medals will have the Rising Sun flag on the medals that is displaying right now. I think that is a specific political act and it is up to IOC to recognize that there really is historical distinctions going on here.”
To settle the issue,... she said it's important to have an international conversation to educate people on how much suffering this flag still causes.
Along with that,... she said she hopes the South Korean government can navigate the challenges Japan keeps putting in its way, and she urged the South Korean athletes who'll be competing in Tokyo to rise above any provocations they encounter there.
Kim Bo-kyoung, Arirang News.
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