hankyoreh

At the 1,531st Wednesday Demonstration for the redress of the system of sexual slavery carried out by the Japanese military, which took place outside the former Japanese Embassy in Seoul at noon on Wednesday, an organizer announces responses to a questionnaire on related to the “comfort women” issue from presidential candidates from six parties in the running for the Blue House. (Kim Hye-yun/The Hankyoreh)

In response to policy questions from civic organizations working on the “comfort women” issue, Democratic Party presidential nominee Lee Jae-myung and minor progressive Justice Party candidate Sim Sang-jung both stated that the 2015 “comfort women” agreement signed by South Korea and Japan was inadequate and failed to take a victim-centered approach.

On the other hand, People Power Party candidate Yoon Suk-yeol and minor opposition People’s Party nominee Ahn Cheol-soo refused to respond, with Yoon adding to his track record of non-responses to policy questions related to women’s issues.

A network of support groups for victims of the “comfort women” system of the Japanese military on Jan. 25 sent a policy questionnaire regarding the resolution of the problem of sexual slavery by the Japanese military to a total of six parties, and on Wednesday released the responses it received. Though Lee, Sim, Basic Income Party nominee Oh Jun-ho, and Progressive Party nominee Kim Jae-yeon responded to the survey, Yoon and Ahn refused to answer the questionnaire. The network stated that Yoon and Ahn “refused to respond despite repeated requests” and expressed “deep regret” over the politicians’ unwillingness to respond.

The four candidates who responded to the questionnaire all stated that the 2015 agreement between South Korea and Japan was an inadequate one that failed to take a victim-centered approach. The agreement resolved to “finally and irreversibly” conclude the “comfort women” issue through consolatory payments totaling 1 billion yen contributed by the Japanese government and the establishment of a “foundation for reconciliation and healing” by the South Korean government. It drew criticism that it failed to consider the opinions of the victims of Japan’s sexual slavery themselves.

On how to resolve the historical issue, Lee said more specifically, “Beginning with the repayment of the 1 billion yen to Japan, I will seek to revise the 2015 South Korea-Japan Agreement on the condition of the Japanese government’s acknowledgment of responsibility, apology, and remorse for its war crimes, and devise an agreement that has the force of law.”

Sim said, “Making efforts to prematurely improve relations without the approval of the victims is not desirable,” adding, “If the Japanese government clearly acknowledges responsibility and offers an official apology, flexibility can be applied to the matter of monetary compensation.”

The four candidates who responded to the questionnaire also stated their agreement with the National Human Rights Commission of Korea’s Jan. 17 decision that recommended that police actively intervene against groups obstructing the Wednesday Demonstrations.

Since May 2020, far-right groups such as the Freedom Union have been obstructing the Wednesday Demonstrations, historically held by the Statue of Peace in front of the former Japanese Embassy in Seoul’s Jongno District, by preemptively registering counter-rallies at the location.

Lee Jae-myung said, “[The commission’s decision] is a rightful one, and effective measures should be taken to implement the recommendation.”

The other three candidates argued that the administration should establish a legal order to ensure the safety of the Wednesday Demonstrations as well. Sim said, “Though whether it’s appropriate to specially establish [an administrative legal order] should be carefully considered, I will make efforts towards relevant legal reform, as defamation and insults against demonstrators run counter to the guarantee of the freedom of assembly.”

The four candidates who responded all shared a commitment to shedding light on the truth regarding the problem of sexual slavery by the Japanese military, such as through education centered on preventing the recurrence of historical denials and measures designed to prevent contempt of victims.

They all shared their blueprint for the ascertainment of truth, research, and education through the establishment of a foundation. Lee said he would establish an “Asian women’s human rights and peace foundation” of international stature, while Sim envisioned a “wartime human rights and peace foundation,” and Oh and Kim proposed the establishment of a “women’s human rights and peace foundation.”

Furthermore, the four candidates all shared their consensus on new legislation and legal reform for the regulation of hate crimes such as hate speech. However, Lee said, “Because legislation and legal reform for the regulation of hate crimes such as hate speech may constrict freedom of speech, I will create a forum for conversation and base my legislative efforts on national consensus.”

Lee Na-young, president of the Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance for the Issues of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan, said during the 1,531st Wednesday Demonstration, “One candidate, in particular, failed to say a word despite repeated contact and an extension [to respond to the questionnaire].”

She added, “I understand that asking a force obstructing the resolution of the problem to consider ways to resolve the problem was an unreasonable expectation from the outset.”

By Ko Byung-chan, staff reporter

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