[Asia Economy Reporter Son Sun-hee] President Moon Jae-in stated on the 14th regarding the issue of Japanese military comfort women victims, "The most important principle in resolving the issue is 'victim-centeredness,'" and added, "The government will find a solution acceptable to the grandmothers until they say 'it's okay.'"
President Moon, in a video congratulatory message at the memorial ceremony held at the National Manghyang Hill in Cheonan, Chungnam, on the morning of the same day to mark the 'Japanese Military Comfort Women Victims Remembrance Day,' said, "We will do our best to prepare realistic and feasible measures so that the grandmothers' courage and dedication can be rewarded by restoring their dignity and honor."
President Moon said, "The grandmothers are now presenting a new direction for resolving the Japanese military comfort women issue," and added, "They said that while inheriting the achievements of the civic movement, we must create a way for the future generations of both Korea and Japan to move toward peace and human rights." He continued, "They hoped that the entire process of the movement for resolving the comfort women victims issue, including verification, would be open and transparent so that various citizens could participate together."
Below is the full text of President Moon’s congratulatory message.
[Video Congratulatory Message for Japanese Military Comfort Women Victims Remembrance Day]
Dear fellow citizens,
Dear grandmothers and families of the Japanese military ‘comfort women’ victims,
Despite the inconveniences caused by COVID-19 prevention measures and heavy rains,
thank you for joining the memorial ceremony for the Japanese military ‘comfort women’ victims today.
We also send our regards to the grandmothers who could not attend the ceremony,
and pray for the eternal rest and blessings of those who have already left us.
Today marks the 29th anniversary of when Grandmother Kim Hak-soon first testified
about the victimization.
Encouraged by her testimony, the grandmothers
have revealed the pain and suffering they endured to the world,
and as living witnesses of history, have practiced the values of women’s rights and peace.
Thanks to the courageous testimonies of the grandmothers, the Japanese military ‘comfort women’ issue
was adopted in the UN Human Rights investigator’s report,
and was defined as a war crime through international human rights courts.
Moreover, domestic and international civic groups and academic experts have stood in solidarity with the grandmothers,
and through long-standing efforts,
many citizens empathize with the grandmothers’ pain.
The international community also recognizes this as a ‘universal women’s human rights movement’
and a ‘global peace movement.’
The government will do its utmost to prepare realistic and feasible measures
so that the grandmothers’ courage and dedication
can be rewarded by restoring their dignity and honor.
The most important principle in resolving the issue is ‘victim-centeredness.’
The government will find a solution acceptable to the grandmothers until they say “it’s okay.”
We will promote investigations, research, and education to set history right
in a more progressive manner,
so that more students and citizens can share the grandmothers’ pain
and firmly stand in solidarity.
We are always concerned about the health of the grandmothers.
We will take even more meticulous care
so that the seventeen surviving grandmothers can enjoy a healthy and stable life.
We deeply respect the grandmothers’ lives,
who, beyond being victims, have continuously instilled new values in our society as human rights activists.
The grandmothers are now
presenting a new direction for resolving the Japanese military ‘comfort women’ issue.
They said that while inheriting the achievements of the civic movement,
the future generations of Korea and Japan must create a way forward toward peace and human rights.
They hoped that the entire process and results of the ‘movement to resolve the comfort women victims issue,’
including verification, would be open and transparent,
allowing diverse citizens to participate together.
We will deeply engrave in our hearts the words of the grandmothers,
who have sublimated their tragic pain into wisdom for life.
On this Japanese military ‘comfort women’ victims remembrance day,
we hope that the grandmothers’ pain and wounds will heal even a little,
and that our citizens will reflect together on the grandmothers’ hearts.
We will always stand in solidarity for the values of women’s human rights and peace.
We express our gratitude and respect for the grandmothers’ noble lives.
Thank you.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
