Grandmother I Yong-su Responds to 'Behind-the-Scenes Theory': "I'm Neither a Fool Nor Demented"

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] Lee Yong-soo (92), a victim of the Japanese military sexual slavery, strongly denied the 'behind-the-scenes conspiracy' allegations raised by some through her second press conference related to the Justice and Memory Foundation and newly elected lawmaker Yoon Mi-hyang (former director of Justice and Memory Foundation). The grandmother said, "Even if I say it a hundred or a thousand times, I am the only one," adding, "I am neither a fool nor suffering from dementia."

On the morning of the 28th, Lee appeared on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' and said, "I have an adopted daughter, and (the second press conference statement) was just copied exactly as I wrote it in a convoluted way." She also said, "I thought about it and did it myself, so I am proud of it."

Lee also expressed mental distress she had experienced. She revealed, "While writing (the second press conference statement) alone, I truly felt like dying," and "I did not discuss it with anyone."

Regarding the newly elected lawmaker Yoon, she said, "(Yoon) is not a human being," and added, "Even though I gave my all, she did not recognize the merit and tormented me again. Seeing such absurd behavior, I thought that people cannot be trusted."

About her remark questioning why the Jeong Dae-hyeop (Justice and Memory Foundation) only talked about the 'comfort women' and not the 'forced labor women,' she said, "Because just the forced labor women were not enough, they included the comfort women and continued for 30 years, and I just followed thinking that it had to be that way."

She continued, "I only listened to those people. We do the work, but others receive the money. This is very unfair."

Regarding the claim that Yoon Mi-hyang blocked her past run for the National Assembly, she said, "At that time, people around me strongly encouraged me to run for the National Assembly, and I declared my candidacy, but later I heard that Yoon Mi-hyang blocked it at the end," adding, "I don't know why she blocked it; maybe because of my age, she said it was not possible."