Citizen Party: "Claims that Yoon Mee-hyang gave 'prior explanation of the comfort women agreement' are fake news"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] On the 10th, the Together Citizens' Party refuted as "fake news" the claim by Cho Tae-yong, spokesperson of the Future Korea Party, that Yoon Mi-hyang, a successful candidate from the Justice and Memory Foundation (Jeonguiyeon), received prior explanations from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs during the 2015 Korea-Japan comfort women agreement.

Je Yoon-kyung, chief spokesperson of the Citizens' Party, stated in a commentary, "During the Park Geun-hye administration, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs distorted and conveyed the humiliating negotiation contents as a successful agreement to (candidate Yoon)," denying the suspicion of 'prior explanation.'

The chief spokesperson explained, "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs decided all matters at the Korea-Japan director-level consultation on the afternoon of December 27, 2015, without any prior consultation with related organizations, and unilaterally notified Yoon Mi-hyang, then the executive representative of the Korean Council for the Women Drafted for Military Sexual Slavery by Japan (the predecessor of Jeonguiyeon), that night of some agreement contents under the condition of confidentiality."

According to the chief spokesperson, the contents notified to candidate Yoon at the time included only parts of the agreement such as 'deep remorse and apology' and 'Japanese government’s financial contribution,' while sensitive contents like 'irreversible resolution,' 'restraint from criticism in the international community,' and 'removal of the statue of the girl' were omitted.

The chief spokesperson added, "The so-called prior consultation claimed by the Park Geun-hye administration was merely a visit by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for holiday greetings."

He further stated, "Cho Tae-yong, who participated in spreading fake news against candidate Yoon by raising unfounded suspicions, should apologize immediately," and "As a Ministry of Foreign Affairs official at the time of the comfort women agreement, it is only proper for Cho to offer a sincere apology before the public."

The chief spokesperson also called the claim by Choi Yong-sang, leader of the Goza Peace and Human Rights Party, targeting candidate Yoon by alleging that the comfort women grandmothers did not receive proper compensation, "fake news," pointing out, "Leader Choi is a figure who has continuously expressed dissatisfaction with the Citizens' Party after failing to secure a proportional nomination."

The chief spokesperson concluded, "The Future United Party and Future Korea Party, which were the ruling parties at the time of the comfort women agreement, still refuse to reflect and change even after the general election," urging, "Stop the groundless attacks against candidate Yoon."