[Issue Check] Ryu Seok-chun's "Comfort Women Were Prostitutes" Remark, Four Months Without Any Punishment

Professor Ryu Seok-chun of Yonsei University's Department of Sociology, who caused a controversy by stating that the Japanese military 'comfort women' were a form of prostitution, is heading to the classroom for the scheduled liberal arts class "The Founding and Development of the Republic of Korea" at Baekyang Hall, Yonsei University Sinchon Campus, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 26th, while responding to questions from the press. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] Professor Ryu Seok-chun of Yonsei University’s Department of Sociology, who sparked controversy last September by comparing Japanese military comfort women to prostitutes during a lecture, is preparing for his first semester class. It will be his last semester before mandatory retirement. He has chosen the book Anti-Japan Tribalism as the course material, a book that argues for the legitimacy of Japanese colonial rule. This marks the fourth month without any restrictions following his controversial remarks.

On September 19 last year, during the sociology major course "Development Sociology," Professor Ryu stated, "The direct perpetrator (regarding comfort women) is not Japan," and described "(comfort women) as a type of prostitution."

He defended the Japanese government by saying, "Prostitution is an old industry, and many countries tolerate prostitution, so it is not appropriate to criticize only Japan." In response, the Justice and Memory Solidarity and other support groups for comfort women victims, along with Yonsei University’s student council and alumni, have strongly protested, demanding Professor Ryu’s dismissal, calling his remarks "ignorant and unpatriotic below standard."

The Citizens’ Committee for the Protection of the Common People’s Livelihood filed a complaint against Professor Ryu with the Seoul Western District Prosecutors’ Office on charges including spreading false information, defamation, and sexual harassment. The Western District Prosecutors’ Office assigned the case to the criminal division and directed the Seodaemun Police Station to conduct an investigation.

On the 13th of this month, the Seodaemun Police Station summoned Professor Ryu as a suspect on charges including defamation and conducted an investigation. This was four months after his problematic remarks in September last year. The police reportedly focused on questioning the intent behind his statements. A police official said, "Since the investigation is ongoing, we cannot disclose specific details of the testimony." Compared to the usual 1?2 months between the start of a defamation investigation and summons notification, the investigation into Professor Ryu has been criticized for being slow.

Yonsei University’s internal disciplinary action is also still pending. On the 22nd, the university’s Ethics and Human Rights Committee’s Gender Equality Center held a second meeting to discuss whether to discipline Professor Ryu. Although the first meeting resulted in a decision to discipline him, Professor Ryu requested a retrial. Even after the second meeting’s results are announced, a swift disciplinary decision is unlikely, as the final decision requires further discussions by Yonsei University’s Personnel Committee and Disciplinary Committee.