Park Yuha, Author of the Controversial "Comfort Women of the Empire," to Receive Korea Publishing Merit Award

Indicted for Defamation in 2015
Supreme Court Ruling of Not Guilty in 2023
Publishers Association: "Contribution to Academic and Press Freedom"

Park Yuha, Professor Emeritus at Sejong University and author of the controversial book "Comfort Women of the Empire," which described Japanese military comfort women as having a "comrade-like relationship with the Japanese military," will receive the Korea Publishing Contribution Award.

According to the publishing industry, the Korean Publishers Association will present a special contribution award to Park Yuha, Professor Emeritus at Sejong University and author of "Comfort Women of the Empire." The award ceremony will take place during the 39th Book Day Commemoration and Publishing Culture Development Merit Awards, which will be held at the Korea Press Center in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, on October 13. Jung Jongju, CEO of the book’s publisher, Ppuriwaipari Publishing, will also be a joint recipient.

The Korea Publishing Contribution Award is a leading prize in the publishing industry, recognizing those who have contributed to the development of publishing culture. Last year, the late Na Byungshik, CEO of Pulbit Publishing, who published social science books that served as a foundation for the democratization movement for many years, received the special contribution award.

An official from the Korean Publishers Association stated, "There was a recommendation noting that both individuals devoted themselves to defending academic freedom and freedom of the press and publication through prolonged legal battles," adding, "After an internal review process, Professor Park and the publisher’s CEO were selected as joint recipients."

Through social media, Professor Park expressed, "More than for myself, I am sincerely glad and grateful for Ppuriwaipari Publishing and CEO Jung, who endured hardships together."

In her book "Comfort Women of the Empire," Professor Park included content suggesting that Japanese military comfort women were not simply victims, but were "in a cooperative relationship with the Japanese military," and that "some followed voluntarily." She was indicted on defamation charges in 2015 but was acquitted last year. In 2023, the Supreme Court ruled that it was difficult to regard her statements as "facts constituting defamation," and delivered a verdict of not guilty. After the case was remanded, the Seoul High Court also found her not guilty, and the prosecution dropped its appeal, finalizing her acquittal. The previous injunction, which had restricted publication and distribution on the condition that certain problematic content be removed, was also lifted in July.