"We won't buy Japanese products and we won't visit Japan"... Local government leaders condemn Japan

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Seo Dong-young] The National Association of Mayors, Governors, and District Chiefs (Chairman Yeom Tae-young, Mayor of Suwon) held a press conference at the National Assembly Press Center on the morning of the 23rd, demanding Japan's withdrawal of unilateral and retaliatory export restrictions.

The association determined that Japan's government's implementation of export restrictions on semiconductor core materials and pursuit of removal from the "White Country List" of export examination priority countries directly contradicts efforts for friendly cooperation between local governments of the two countries.

The association further expressed respect for the Republic of Korea's judicial branch ruling on compensation for forced conscription victims during the colonial period, and urged Japan's wartime profiteer companies to make fair compensation payments to victims and offer sincere apologies before history. It also warned that the Abe government's retaliatory export restrictions violate international norms including the G20 Summit Declaration and WTO agreements, and that this will result in greater damage to Japan.

The association stated that if Japan does not withdraw the export restrictions, it will launch a "new domestic product promotion campaign," including a strong boycott of Japanese products, and will suspend visits to Japan for official business purposes until the export restrictions are withdrawn.

Furthermore, the association urged the Korean government and political circles to respond firmly to the Abe government's economic provocations.

At today's press conference, in addition to Chairman Yeom Tae-young, Standing Vice-Chairman Hwang Myeong-seon (Mayor of Nonsan), Vice-Chairman Jung Cheon-seok (District Chief of Dong-gu, Ulsan), Han Beom-deok, Mayor of Cheongju, Won Chang-muk, Mayor of Wonju, Moon Seok-jin, District Chief of Seodaemun-gu, Jung Won-o, District Chief of Seongdong-gu, Kim Mi-gyeong, District Chief of Eunpyeong-gu, Yu Dong-gyun, District Chief of Mapo-gu, and Lee Seong, District Chief of Guro-gu, as well as other officers and local government leaders affiliated with the association, attended.