Lee Yongsoo Urges Lee Jaemyung Administration to Respond if Japan Fails to Apologize and Compensate for Comfort Women

Jeonguiyeon: "Is the Yoon administration trying to continue its treacherous policies?"
Far-right group protests with signs reading "Comfort women are an international fraud"

Grandmother Lee Yongsoo is shouting slogans at the 1713th Wednesday Demonstration for the Resolution of the Japanese Military Sexual Slavery Issue held near the Statue of Peace in Susong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 13th of last month. Photo by Yonhap News

Lee Yongsoo, a survivor of the Japanese military sexual slavery system and a women's rights activist, has appealed to the Lee Jaemyung administration to urge the Japanese government to issue an apology and provide compensation.

According to Yonhap News Agency on October 1, the 1,720th Wednesday Demonstration for the Resolution of the Japanese Military Sexual Slavery Issue was held near the former Japanese Embassy in Jongno-gu, hosted by the Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance (Jeonguiyeon). Grandmother Lee Yongsoo, Na-Young Lee, chairperson of Jeonguiyeon, and others attended the event.

Grandmother Lee Yongsoo stated, "If Japan still refuses to apologize and compensate, shouldn't our government take action and expedite the process?" She added, "I'm almost 100 years old now. Is our government just waiting for all the grandmothers to pass away?"

She also became emotional as she said, "Once Japan fully compensates, I will come before you all and shout 'manse' three times. Only then will we achieve true liberation."

While Lee Yongsoo was speaking into the microphone, members of a far-right group holding signs reading "Comfort women are an international fraud" shouted insults and yelled loudly. Grandmother Lee said, "I feel embarrassed even in front of all of you," and called for an amendment to the 'Act on the Protection of Victims of Military Sexual Slavery.'

There was also criticism directed at President Lee Jaemyung for not mentioning the comfort women issue during the Korea-Japan summit held the previous day.

Na-Young Lee, chairperson of Jeonguiyeon, asserted, "Where are Lee Jaemyung, who as the then leader, and the Democratic Party, who fiercely resisted the humiliating pro-Japan diplomacy of the Yoon Sukyeol administration?" She argued, "Pragmatism devoid of values and principles is like a ship that has lost its rudder."

Jeonguiyeon also stated in a declaration, "Is the Yoon Sukyeol administration trying to continue its subservient, treacherous, and pro-Japan policies?" The organization added, "As a 'government of national sovereignty,' it must firmly address the state violence committed by the former Japanese government and restore the human rights and dignity of its own citizens who were victimized."