Wednesday Rally's Yeon Jeong-ui of Jeonguiyeon: "No Embezzlement or Illegal Use of Funds... Will Undergo Verification by Accountant"

On the 13th, amid ongoing controversies regarding the accounting of donations to the Justice Memory Solidarity, Inayeong, the director of Justice Memory Solidarity, is speaking at the 1439th regular Wednesday demonstration for the resolution of the Japanese military sexual slavery issue, held on Peace Road in front of the former Japanese Embassy in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Mun Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] The 'Justice and Memory Foundation for the Resolution of the Japanese Military Sexual Slavery Issue' (hereafter Justice Foundation), which recently faced allegations related to the handling of donations, announced on the 13th during its regular Wednesday rally that it will undergo verification from multiple external certified public accountants regarding the use of donations and accounting processes.

At around 12 PM that day, Lee Na-young, director of the Justice Foundation, stated at the '1439th Regular Wednesday Rally' held in front of the former Japanese Embassy in Gwancheol-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, "There has been no personal embezzlement or illegal use of funds within the Justice Foundation," adding, "We have undergone audits by certified public accountants every year." She further expressed the position that "we will receive repeated verification from multiple certified public accountants regarding the use of donations."

Director Lee defined "some malicious media reports about the Justice Foundation as oppression against civil society as a whole," and warned, "Anti-national, anti-peace, and anti-women forces should not attempt to damage the solidarity between the grandmothers and activists that has continued for 30 years."

The rally drew attention as it was held amid various allegations concerning the recent handling of donations by the Justice Foundation. On the 7th, survivor Lee Yong-soo (92) claimed, "Donations and funds were never used for the grandmothers. I don't even know where the donations collected by students participating in the Wednesday rallies go," and expressed her intention not to attend the Wednesday rallies. The Justice Foundation believes there is a misunderstanding and has attempted to contact her, but it is reported that contact has not yet been established.

The Wednesday rally held in front of the former Japanese Embassy in Gwancheol-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, was the 1439th. Since February this year, the Justice Foundation has had only some activists read statements on-site and has live-streamed the rallies online to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Attending the rally were Director Lee Na-young, Secretary-General Han Kyung-hee, and other key activists of the Justice Foundation. Former director Yoon Mi-hyang, who was elected as a member of the National Assembly from the Democratic Party of Citizens, did not attend the rally.

On the 13th, amid ongoing controversies regarding the accounting of donations to the Justice Memory Solidarity, the 1439th regular Wednesday demonstration for the resolution of the Japanese military sexual slavery issue is being held via online live streaming to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) on Pyeonghwa-ro in front of the former Japanese Embassy in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

Kim Young-soon, the executive representative of the Korean Women's Associations United, which organized the rally, said, "The Wednesday rallies and the activities of the Justice Foundation are human rights movements that have demanded the truth and apology for the Japanese military sexual slavery system," adding, "(The victim support that the media raises suspicions about) is actually something our government or the Japanese government should be doing." She continued, "The Justice Foundation is not a humanitarian aid organization, but it has always stood by the victims of the Japanese military comfort women and worked to raise awareness of their suffering," emphasizing, "In response to attacks on the activities that publicized the Japanese military comfort women issue, which was the country's first 'Me Too' movement, we will continue to strengthen our solidarity."

Jeong Chun-sook, a member of the National Assembly from the Democratic Party of Korea who visited the site that day, said, "The Wednesday rallies have been a platform where numerous civil society and women's organizations have together revealed to the world the issue of violence against women during war for 1,439 times," adding, "There are many who distort and belittle our efforts, but there is still much work to be done. I will work together in the National Assembly to resolve the Japanese military comfort women issue." Gu Bon-gi, a Supreme Council member of the Democratic Party of Citizens to which former director Yoon belongs, also attended the rally and briefly said, "We will stand in solidarity together."

Meanwhile, conservative-leaning groups such as Liberty Wind, Liberty Korea Patriotic Corps, and Turn Right called for the resignation of former director Yoon, who was elected as a proportional representative of the Democratic Party of Citizens in the last general election, and the dissolution of the Justice Foundation. Although some protesters and individual broadcasters (YouTubers) voiced criticism against the Justice Foundation, and loud voices were exchanged in various places, there were no significant physical clashes.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.