Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) faction leader Park Chan-dae, second from right, speaks during a plenary session at the National Assembly in Yeongdeungpo District, Seoul, on August 27. Yonhap

Korea’s largest opposition party, the Democratic Party (DPK), called on the designated labor minister to resign voluntarily on Tuesday. A day earlier, he had stated that Koreans had been considered Japanese citizens during Japanese colonial rule from 1910 to 1945.

During Monday’s hearing, candidate Kim Moon-soo said the nationality of Koreans during colonial rule was Japanese, sticking to a controversial statement he made years ago that critics say refutes the view that the country was founded in 1919 with the establishment of a provisional government.

“Our country was destroyed during the Japanese colonial period. How can there be such a thing as (Korean) nationality?” Kim said during the hearing. “Our country was completely taken over and forcibly incorporated into Japan.”

On Tuesday, KDP faction leader Park Chan-dae condemned Kim’s views, calling him the “worst anti-state man under Yoon Suk Yeol’s government, for whom there is no improvement.”

“Kim should voluntarily resign today if he wants to retain even a shred of honor as a former labor activist who fought in the toughest of times,” he said.

Speaking at a church in 2018, Kim said he could not agree with the view that the country was founded in 1919. He asked why there had been an independence movement if there had been a country during the colonial period.

The question of when Korea was founded has long been the subject of ideological debate. Some argue that it was April 11, 1919, when a provisional government was established during Japanese colonial rule.

Korea gained independence on August 15, 1945, following the surrender of Japan in World War II.

During Monday’s hearing, Kim also said the impeachment of former President Park Geun-hye was “wrong and will be historically reassessed.” (Yonhap)