Grandmother I Yong-su's Press Conference, Justice Network Says "Heartbreaking"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] The Justice and Memory Foundation (Jeonguiyeokyeondae) expressed regret over the second press conference held on the 25th by 92-year-old comfort woman victim Lee Yong-soo and released explanatory materials regarding some of her remarks.

Jeonguiyeokyeondae stated, "We watched today's press conference with a heavy heart. It pains us," adding, "It seems inappropriate to issue a statement regarding the press conference of a Japanese military 'comfort woman' victim with whom we have worked for 30 years. However, we are releasing explanatory materials to aid understanding on a few points."

Jeonguiyeokyeondae clarified the difference between 'Jeongsindae' and 'comfort women.' They explained, "'Jeongsindae' is an abbreviation of 'Geunro Jeongsindae' (labor corps), referring to victims who were forcibly taken, typically at the upper elementary school age, to Japanese military factories to produce military supplies. 'Comfort women' refers to victims who were forced into sexual slavery by Imperial Japan."

They continued, "When the Korean Council for the Women Drafted for Military Sexual Slavery by Japan (Jeongdaehyeop) began its activities in the early 1990s, the reality of the victims was not widely known, so the commonly used term 'Jeongsindae' was used. Jeongdaehyeop has consistently worked to restore the honor and human rights of Japanese military comfort women victims." They also noted, "There are separate organizations supporting Jeongsindae victims, and activists do not confuse the two."

Jeonguiyeokyeondae further emphasized that the term 'sexual slavery' "is the concept that best expresses the reality of the Japanese military 'comfort women' victims and is established in the international community," stressing, "It is not a term to defame the victims but rather an academically constructed concept to accurately describe the reality of the victims."

They also explained the background of the publication of the testimony collection. At the press conference, Lee stated, "(Jeongdaehyeop) never sat me down to take testimony. Since 1993, I saw the book being sold for 6,500 won. Even so, I did not know." The book mentioned in Lee’s press conference is presumed to be the testimony collection titled 'Korean Military Comfort Women Forcibly Taken: Testimony Collection,' published by Jeongdaehyeop and others.

In response, Jeonguiyeokyeondae clarified that Lee’s testimony is included in the first volume of the comfort women victims’ testimony collection 'Korean Military Comfort Women Forcibly Taken.' They explained, "Researchers from the Korean Research Institute for Jeongsindae (later Korean Jeongsindae Research Institute) participated in recording testimonies, and the testimony collection was published as a joint work of Jeongdaehyeop and the Korean Jeongsindae Research Institute." They added, "At that time, the testimony collection was the strongest evidence to inform the existence of victims and counter the Japanese government’s denial of illegality due to the 'lack of documentary evidence.'"

Jeonguiyeokyeondae noted that Yoon Jung-ok, honorary professor at Ewha Womans University and the first representative of Jeongdaehyeop, and Jung Jin-sung, honorary professor at Seoul National University, participated in the publication of the testimony collection.

Jeonguiyeokyeondae stated, "Lee Yong-soo was the most attacked by Japanese right-wingers and historical denialists who sought to deny the victims’ testimonies," asserting, "Although some parts of the victims’ testimonies changed as they confronted the perpetrators, the essential content of the suffering endured as Japanese military 'comfort women' has never changed."

They concluded, "We will continue to do our utmost to ensure that the perpetrators promptly acknowledge their crimes, fulfill their legal responsibilities, and that a day comes when the human rights and honor of Japanese military 'comfort women' victims are not violated."