Grandmother Lee Yong-soo: "Comfort Women Issue Must Go to ICJ... Requesting Parliament's Participation"

Grandmother Lee Yong-soo, a former comfort woman victim and human rights activist, held a press conference at the National Assembly on the 5th, requesting the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to take up the comfort women issue. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kum Bo-ryeong] Grandmother Lee Yong-soo visited the National Assembly to urge the promotion of referring the Japanese military comfort women issue to the International Court of Justice (ICJ). She also requested a meeting with President Moon Jae-in through Lee Nak-yeon, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea.

On the 5th at the National Assembly, Grandmother Lee held a press conference and stated, "The Japanese military comfort women issue must go to the International Court of Justice," adding, "All members of the National Assembly must participate to achieve this."

Last month on the 16th, Grandmother Lee proposed that the governments of both South Korea and Japan refer the Japanese military comfort women issue to the ICJ for judgment under international law. So far, there has been no comprehensive ruling from the international court confirming the criminal facts regarding the comfort women issue.

Grandmother Lee said, "There is nowhere else to go now. We cannot go anywhere else. Only a few grandmothers remain," and added, "I also do not have much time left. Time does not wait for me."

She further stated, "Going to the International Court of Justice means making Japan admit that they created the comfort women system and apologize," and said, "If they apologize, we can forgive them."

Addressing the members of the National Assembly, she appealed for support in referring the comfort women issue to the ICJ. Grandmother Lee emphasized, "If all the members of the National Assembly participated, this would have already been resolved," and said, "I came here to ask for your participation in this condemnation."

She added, "Now, the president of our country must take the lead."

Grandmother Lee Yong-soo, a former comfort woman victim and human rights activist, is shedding tears after delivering a speech at the National Assembly on the 5th regarding the international court lawsuit on the comfort women issue. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

According to the Committee for Promoting the Referral of the Comfort Women Issue to the ICJ, before the press conference, Grandmother Lee met with Lee Nak-yeon, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, and requested to meet President Moon. Grandmother Lee explained, "Leader Lee called the president's secretary while I was there."

On the same day, Grandmother Lee met with Lee Nak-yeon, as well as Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, and Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, asking for their assistance regarding the ICJ filing of the comfort women issue.