Yang Jun-woo "Absurd Self-Privilege Law"
Lee Yong-soo Grandma "Ignored Grandmas Again"
[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] Independent lawmaker Yoon Mee-hyang drew a clear line by stating that the bill prohibiting defamation against organizations related to Japanese military 'comfort women' victims is a "victim protection law," in response to criticism from some quarters calling it the "Yoon Mee-hyang Protection Law."
On the 24th, after concluding the "Press Conference of South Korean Women Lawmakers for the Protection of Afghan Women's Human Rights" at the National Assembly, Yoon told reporters, "How can you call that the 'Yoon Mee-hyang Protection Law'?" and added, "Please ask Representative In Jae-geun, who proposed the bill, about its purpose."
She continued, "Go to the Wednesday demonstrations in front of the Japanese Embassy," and said, "I understand the bill is to protect victims from claims such as 'this is fake' or 'a scam'."
Earlier, on the 13th, Representative In proposed the "Amendment to the Act on Protection, Support, and Commemoration Projects for Victims of Japanese Military 'Comfort Women' under Japanese Colonial Rule" as the main proposer. The bill states that "No one shall publicly defame victims or their families by stating facts or spreading false information about Japanese military 'comfort women' victims, thereby damaging the honor of victims, their families, or organizations related to Japanese military 'comfort women'."
However, controversy arose as lawmaker Yoon, who has been indicted on charges of embezzling subsidies from the Justice and Memory Foundation (Jeong-ui-yeon), participated as a co-proposer of the bill.
Yang Jun-woo, spokesperson for the People Power Party, criticized, "Does this mean that the misconduct of civic groups, including lawmaker Yoon Mee-hyang herself, is a sanctuary?" He called it "an absurd self-privilege law that places her own workplace above the law." He added, "Yoon Mee-hyang, who is criticized for exploiting 'comfort women' grandmothers and instead of reflecting, proposed a self-privilege law, should resign."
Kim Ki-heung, deputy spokesperson for former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl’s presidential campaign from the People Power Party, also criticized, "Protecting victims' families is just an excuse; they are blatantly saying they want to protect Yoon Mee-hyang and Jeong-ui-yeon."
Former Board of Audit and Inspection Chairman Choi Jae-hyung said on his social media, "This law is mocked as the 'Yoon Mee-hyang Protection Law' because it prohibits defamation not only against 'comfort women' victims or their families but also against related organizations."
Meanwhile, 'comfort woman' victim grandmother Lee Yong-soo said in an interview with JoongAng Ilbo released on the 24th, "Is it a violation of the law that I spoke the truth about Jeong-ui-yeon (Korean Council for the Women Drafted for Military Sexual Slavery by Japan, the predecessor of the Justice and Memory Foundation)?" and added, "How can they do as they please?"
She raised her voice, saying, "If the bill is to protect victims, why is the organization included in the bill?" and "They did not even ask the victims and ignored the grandmothers again."
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