Published on August 3, 2019.
This essay introduces a Sankei Sho column and discusses South Korean diplomacy through President Moon Jae-in’s criticism of Japan over the so-called forced labor issue, the fire-control radar lock-on incident involving a Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force patrol aircraft, and former President Lee Myung-bak’s landing on Takeshima.
Quoting Nietzsche, it criticizes the structure in which South Korea creates problems itself while adopting the posture of a victim.

August 3, 2019.
Nietzsche pointed out: “There are people who fly into a rage, insult others, and yet demand that others not take them badly.”
Generally speaking, they are the type one would not want as friends or neighbors.
I suddenly wondered whether South Korea also has an expression equivalent to “a thief turning defiant.”
This is the chapter I published on January 13, 2019, under that title.
The following is from yesterday’s Sankei Sho.
It is a piece written splendidly within a limited space, truly an essay by a journalist.
I suddenly wondered whether South Korea also has an expression equivalent to “a thief turning defiant.”
When I looked it up, I found that “Jeokbanhajang” corresponds to it.
It describes the scene of a thief flying into a rage and, perversely, raising a whip.
I was reminded of it when I saw President Moon Jae-in criticize Japan at his press conference on the 10th over the so-called forced labor issue.
“It is an attempt to shift responsibility on the South Korean side onto the Japanese side.”
Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga Yoshihide strongly refuted Moon’s remarks at a press conference on the 11th.
That was only natural, because Moon had caused the problem himself, yet labeled the Japanese government, which pushed back, as “unwise” and demanded that Japan “be humble.”
The philosopher Nietzsche pointed out.
“There are people who fly into a rage, insult others, and yet demand that others not take them badly.”
Generally speaking, they are the type one would not want as friends or neighbors.
In the matter of the fire-control radar lock-on against a Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force patrol aircraft as well, South Korea refused to admit fault and, on the contrary, demanded an apology from Japan.
In South Korean media, the conspicuous tone is that “Prime Minister Abe Shinzo, whose approval rating is falling, is stirring this up for domestic public opinion.”
In any case, they apparently cannot be satisfied unless they place themselves in the position of the victim.
In August 2012, during the Democratic Party administration, then South Korean President Lee Myung-bak ignored the Japanese government’s attempts to stop him and landed on Takeshima in Oki-no-shima Town, Shimane Prefecture.
And several days later, I cannot forget that he declared the following.
“Japan’s influence in the international community is not what it used to be.”
That was probably his true feeling: perhaps if Japan had still been in the period of dazzling economic development and global attention, matters would have been different, but there was no need to show consideration to Japan now that it was in decline.
Weak before the strong, and thoroughly strong toward the weak.
If such a country is the other party, Japan has no choice but to show its power and, at the same time, become even stronger.