Grandmother Lee Yong-soo (92), a victim of the Japanese military sexual slavery, is holding a press conference on the afternoon of the 25th at the Inter-Burgo Hotel in Manchon-dong, Suseong-gu, Daegu. [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] The press conference held by grandmother Lee Yong-soo (92), a victim of the Japanese military sexual slavery, was marked by feelings of betrayal toward Yoon Mi-hyang, the elected member of the National Assembly (former director of Justice and Memory Foundation), and criticism of the Justice and Memory Foundation’s fundraising-centered activism. Disappointment with the lack of tangible results in the comfort women movement was expressed as a call for a new direction.
On the 26th, the Justice and Memory Foundation did not issue a separate statement regarding grandmother Lee’s second press conference held the previous day. The organization released an explanatory note immediately after the conference stating, "It does not seem appropriate to issue a statement regarding the press conference of a victim who has been part of the movement for 30 years." However, even after a day had passed and there was time to prepare a more organized response to the grandmother’s message, they repeatedly said, "There is no additional statement beyond yesterday’s explanatory note."
A representative from the "Citizens’ Group with Grandmothers of the Japanese Military Sexual Slavery Victims," which supports grandmother Lee’s daily life and external activities, said, "She seems to have weakened due to the stress she has been under," adding, "However, right after the press conference the day before, grandmother Lee said she was ‘okay,’ so she did not go to the hospital and is resting at an undisclosed location." It was also reported that there was no contact from the elected member Yoon after the conference. The representative also shared that grandmother Lee expressed to those around her after the conference, "The comfort women movement must not be weakened as a result. The movement must not be disparaged."
The key points of the previous day’s press conference can be summarized into three: ▲ Investigation into allegations related to elected member Yoon ▲ Disappointment with the Justice and Memory Foundation and the Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance’s fundraising-centered activities ▲ Calls for a change in the direction of the comfort women-related civic movement. Professor Cha Jae-won of Busan Catholic University emphasized, "The values of justice, human rights, and peace that the Justice and Memory Foundation has consistently upheld must be embraced, but they must also reflect on the related allegations," adding, "If there are mistakes, they need to be clearly revealed and take responsibility."
The office of the Justice Memory Solidarity in Mapo-gu, Seoul is firmly closed. [Image source=Yonhap News]
As grandmother Lee revealed at the press conference, the related allegations are expected to be clarified through a prosecution investigation. Regarding the position of elected member Yoon, grandmother Lee said it is "a matter for her to decide." Accordingly, public attention has focused on the prosecution and Yoon’s statements. The prosecution has accelerated the investigation, even sacrificing weekends, since launching a forced investigation into the case. Since Yoon’s term begins on the 30th, it is analyzed that the prosecution is trying to produce results before then. Once the 21st National Assembly convenes, Yoon will have immunity from arrest. The allegations involve accounting irregularities related to the Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance and the Justice and Memory Foundation, fundraising through Yoon’s personal account, and the purchase of a shelter in Anseong.
At a press conference held on the 25th at a hotel in Suseong-gu, Daegu, grandmother Lee cried out, "Why should I be sold (for fundraising)?" When mentioning the fundraising activities of the Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance, which embodies the spirit of the comfort women movement, and the accounting fraud allegations related to elected member Yoon, she became emotional and choked up. She especially hoped that the allegations related to Yoon would be fully revealed. Grandmother Lee said, "Yoon Mi-hyang thinks (about the use of donations) with confidence," adding, "If she committed a crime, she should be punished. That is the prosecution’s job." Regarding whether Yoon should resign from her parliamentary seat, she said, "She acted on her own will, so I will not mention it further," but also appealed, "Yoon Mi-hyang betrayed the comfort women movement of 30 years overnight, and I, who was betrayed, am very upset."
Grandmother Lee emphasized that future civic movements related to the Japanese military sexual slavery issue should focus on education. Since the current anti-Japan struggle has yielded no results, the core idea is to resolve the issue through long-term approaches involving education for students in both Korea and Japan. She said, "I am suggesting a change in the method of activism, not ending it," adding, "The students of Korea and Japan are ultimately the owners of their countries. These students need to receive proper historical education on issues such as the comfort women."
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