Yoon Mihyang Marks 80th Liberation Day: "I Will Not Forget the Comfort Women Survivors... Will Strive for True Liberation"

Former lawmaker Yoon Meehyang, during her time as the representative of the Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance for the Issues of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan, is urging the Japanese government to issue an official apology at the regular Wednesday demonstration held on Peace Road in front of the Japanese Embassy in Jongno-gu. Photo by Asia Economy Database

Former lawmaker Yoon Mihyang, who was granted a special Liberation Day pardon, said on the 15th, "I will never forget the grandmothers who established the principles of the movement to resolve the issue of Japanese military 'comfort women,' who showed us the direction and became our guiding light."

Yoon posted this message on her Facebook page, adding, "I will continue working toward the day of true liberation, when the Japanese government apologizes and compensates, and our divided country becomes one, ushering in peace."

Yoon also recounted the past remarks of the comfort women survivors. According to her, when Kim Haksoon first visited the office of the Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance in July 1991, before the August 14 press conference, she was asked to participate and replied without hesitation, "Others say we've been liberated and celebrate, but we have not yet been liberated. True liberation will only come when things are fully resolved with Japan. We are not liberated yet. So we must keep fighting until the end." She continued, "Since I've come forward to testify, of course I can do a press conference." She especially emphasized, "This must be brought to a close. If I can't see it through myself while I'm alive, so be it. But as long as I have strength, I will fight until the end during my lifetime."

She also introduced other statements, including: ▲ "Even if all of us die, it won't be over without an apology." (Gil Wonok, in a 2008 interview with Kyunghyang Shinmun) ▲ "We will continue to fight until the Japanese government reveals the truth, apologizes, and compensates, even if only one of us is left." (Kang Deokkyung) ▲ "All I want is that. For Japan to apologize to us." (Hwang Geumju, January 17, 2011, during a visit to a nursing hospital in Busan).

Yoon added, "There are countless words from the grandmothers that could be called declarations of independence, which cannot all be recorded here." She continued, "On this 80th anniversary of Liberation Day, I begin this day by remembering the voices of the victims of the Japanese military sexual slavery system, who endured unspeakable suffering under Japanese colonial rule, but overcame that pain and soared powerfully for peace."

She went on to say, "I renew my pledge that those voices will not be forgotten and that the effort for true liberation embodied in those voices will never be abandoned." She added, "I pray that the peace and hope forged in the rough wilderness of the past 30 years will take flight with even greater wings, reaching countless lives who still suffer, are wounded, and are killed by war, and bring them hope."

In another post, Yoon wrote, "On the morning of the 80th Liberation Day, in honor of its meaning, someone made a generous donation of 5 million won to the 'Kim Bokdong's Hope' sponsorship account." She continued, "I am deeply moved and delighted that the person who performed this amazing act and I are both members of the 'Kim Bokdong's Hope' supporter family."