Israel, South Korea Resolve Diplomatic Snafu Over Presidential Comments

Israel and South Korea have resolved a brief diplomatic dispute sparked by controversial remarks from President Lee Jae Myung referencing the Holocaust, according to officials from both countries.

South Korea’s Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said Wednesday that Israel had accepted Seoul’s explanation regarding the comments, bringing the episode to a close.

The dispute began after Lee shared a video on social media that appeared to show Israeli soldiers pushing a body from a rooftop, and said the incident should be verified. He went on to compare wartime killings to the Holocaust and to the issue of Korean “comfort women,” drawing sharp criticism from Israel.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry condemned the remarks, calling them an unacceptable trivialization of the Holocaust, particularly in the period leading up to Holocaust Remembrance Day. It also said the video cited by Lee had been misrepresented as a current event and originated from a misleading social media account.

The footage in question dates back to September 2024 and shows an incident during a counterterrorism operation in Judea and Samaria. According to Israeli officials, the individual involved was an adult terrorist killed in combat. The IDF previously said the incident did not align with its values and was investigated.

Lee later clarified that the video was not recent and acknowledged that Israel had examined the incident and taken action. South Korean officials emphasized that his remarks were intended as a general statement about human rights rather than a targeted criticism.

Cho said that following these clarifications, Israeli officials indicated they accepted the explanation, effectively resolving the diplomatic tension.

The exchange marked a rare public disagreement between the two countries, which have maintained diplomatic relations for decades.