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| Busan Mayor Oh Keo-don. Korea Times file |
By Park Si-soo
The "Boycott Japan" campaign is gaining steam after a local municipality added its voice to the movement.
Busan Mayor Oh Keo-don said Tuesday he is planning to suspend exchange programs with Japan until the latter drops trade restrictions against South Korea.
Busan ― Korea's second-biggest city ― has run a range of exchanges with Japan thanks to their geographical proximity. It is the first municipality to declare an anti-Japan campaign of this kind.
If the suspension is implemented as planned and the trade feud continues, experts say it is possible other municipalities could take similar steps.
"We are considering suspending exchange programs between Busan and Japan," Oh told reporters on Tuesday. "We will scrap the plan if Japan withdraws its unjustifiable economic restrictions and takes steps to build constructive relations with South Korea.
"Busan stands with President Moon Jae-in's position on the ongoing conflict and believes today's strained bilateral ties can be solely blamed on the Abe administration's wrong policy."
