Justice Memory Solidarity "Some Media Seem to Mislead with Moral Issues"

Additional Statement from Justice Network on the Afternoon of the 12th Regarding Accounting Errors and Related Issues

Lee Nayoung, Chairperson of the Justice Memory Solidarity, held a press conference on the morning of the 11th at the People’s Human Rights Foundation in Mapo-gu, Seoul, addressing the controversy over donation funds. Photo by Kim Hyunmin kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] The "Justice Memory Solidarity for the Resolution of the Japanese Military Sexual Slavery Issue" (Justice Memory Solidarity) issued additional clarification materials on the 12th and refuted accounting-related allegations recently raised in the media. They also made sharp criticisms by directly naming the media outlet.

Justice Memory Solidarity released a statement in the afternoon, directly naming a specific media outlet, stating, "Some media outlets distort and dramatize even the content sufficiently explained at the press conference by deleting context, misleading the public into believing that Justice Memory Solidarity has serious moral issues."

They continued, "The deep-rooted corrupt forces who were the main actors of the '2015 Korea-Japan Agreement' deliberately misused the words of victims filled with 30 years of regret from the movement to confuse the essence of the issue with a battle over the truth," adding, "We define this as repression against the entire human rights movement that nullifies the 30-year movement of Justice Memory Solidarity and the Japanese military comfort women victims and exploits it for political purposes." Justice Memory Solidarity stated, "We cannot contain our anger at such media behavior and seek to correct the facts through a clear and thorough investigation of the truth."

Earlier, a media outlet reported that after Justice Memory Solidarity held a fundraising event in 2018 at the beer pub "Octoberfest" in Jongno-gu, Seoul, they only listed the payment destination of about 33 million won used under the name of "fundraising business" as Dio Brewing Co., Ltd., the operator of Octoberfest. Justice Memory Solidarity explained, "The total amount of fundraising business expenses was paid to 50 payment destinations in about 140 cases, and Dio Brewing Co., Ltd., the payment destination with the largest business expense of 9,654,000 won for the 'Night of Supporters' event, was entered as the representative payment destination."

Regarding reports on accounting errors, they explained, "The classification codes on the expenditure statement for donations are divided into scholarships, academics, social welfare, culture, others, and various expenses such as labor costs, rent, and others. Due to the nature of Justice Memory Solidarity's projects, all business expenses except for scholarship projects are classified as '33 Other.' The entry of '9999 people' as the number of beneficiaries is a common method used when entering expenses for projects targeting an unspecified large number of people."

They added, "As the National Tax Service also stated, it is not an intentional omission, and we will proceed with subsequent procedures according to the National Tax Service's re-disclosure order."

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