Italian TV personality Alberto Mondi has apologised for comments that sparked controversy over historical distortion involving South Korea and Japan.
Posting on his social media on Wednesday, Alberto said, “I sincerely apologise for causing concern with my remarks in the recently released Team354 video. I deeply reflect on the discomfort and disappointment my shortcomings have caused.”
He added that historical issues between South Korea and Japan carry “pain and memories for many people” and that he failed to consider the weight of the topic. “I made a careless remark without fully acknowledging that gravity, and the responsibility is entirely mine,” he said.
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Alberto said the incident prompted serious self-reflection. “I will act more cautiously and study history, context and meaning so that I will not be an embarrassment to my children,” he said. “I offer my sincere apology once again to everyone hurt by my words.”
The controversy stemmed from a Tuesday video on the YouTube channel Team354, featuring Alberto, Daniel Lindemann of Germany, Sam Hammington of Australia and actor Song Jin-woo, discussing international marriage.
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The issue surfaced during a conversation about the identity of mixed-heritage children. Song, who has children with his Japanese wife, drew criticism after explaining Japan’s colonial rule (1910-1945) to his daughter by saying “Korea and Japan fought in the past”.