According to adweek.com, the comment inadvertently praised “Japan‘s brutal annexation of the Korean peninsula in the lead-up to World War II. It was a comment many Koreans found offensive considering the 35-year occupation remains a painful memory.”

Jung Min-ho of The Korea Times added that the comment angered tens of thousands of Koreans and non-Koreans. „His (Ramo‘s) incorrect and insensitive comment about Korea‘s history has enraged many of its people.”