Why Shinzo Abe won't be staying at this 5-star hotel for summit with South Korea's president
Japanese leader signals continued displeasure after hotel cancelled its embassy's event last year
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is giving the Lotte Hotel the cold shoulder during his upcoming visit to South Korea, more than a year after the hotel suddenly cancelled an event to mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Japan Self-Defence Forces.
The reception and musical performance had been held annually at the Lotte Hotel in Seoul, but management opted to cancel the event after an editorial in the Dong-a Ilbo newspaper the day before triggered anger among South Koreans.
"The military flag, which was used under Japanese militarism, was waved at the forefront of invasion," the editorial stated. "It is natural that the Asian countries invaded by Japan are sensitive to the flag.
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"Is Japan holding such an event in the middle of Seoul because it does not know what is going on or does not care about it at all?"
The hotel reported receiving threats and claimed there were plans for a protest if the event went ahead.
The anniversary celebrations were subsequently held at the Japanese embassy, but Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida described the hotel's decision as "deplorable".
Japan's diplomatic corps has a long memory, however, and government officials have declined to patronise one of Seoul's most prestigious and luxurious hotels since July.