[Deputy Director's Column] The Wednesday Demonstrations Must Continue

On the 13th, amid ongoing controversies regarding the accounting of donations to the Justice and 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@

[Asia Economy Reporter Ji Yeon-jin] Allegations surrounding Yoon Mi-hyang, the elected member of the Democratic Party of Citizens, and the Justice and Memory Foundation (Jeonguiyeon), where she served as director, have been pouring in day after day. Although Yoon and Jeonguiyeon have continued to issue explanations, these have rather led to further suspicions. For example, the management expenses of 15.6 million KRW out of the 6-year (2014?2019) operating costs of the Anseong Healing Center, disclosed on the 18th, are difficult to understand even at a glance. The annual property tax was only 120,000 KRW, yet the explanation that electricity and water bills for a vacant house amounted to 2.48 million KRW per year is hard to accept. There may be additional items in the management expenses excluding property tax. However, since only representative items are disclosed instead of detailed ones, it is difficult to resolve the suspicions. The accounting fraud allegations that sparked the controversy around Jeonguiyeon are similar. Due to listing only representative usage according to National Tax Service guidelines, criticism arose over the "33 million KRW spent at a beer house."

Upon reflection, Jeonguiyeon's initial response greatly contributed to spreading the suspicions. After grandmother Lee Yong-soo, a victim of sexual slavery, held a press conference on the 7th of this month and accounting fraud allegations against Jeonguiyeon were raised, activists including director Lee Na-yeon held a press conference five days later, focusing on appealing the unfairness of the allegations and Jeonguiyeon's past activities. Although apologies were made to grandmother Lee Yong-soo and supporters of the comfort women issue at that time, demands to disclose receipts to resolve the accounting fraud allegations were drowned out by voices saying, "What NGO (non-governmental organization) discloses everything in detail?"

From Jeonguiyeon's standpoint, which has devoted time and passion for 30 years to resolving the comfort women issue by holding weekly Wednesday demonstrations, various allegations may feel unfair. Since public opinion supporting "doing the right thing" was greater, the sharp attacks targeting Yoon and Jeonguiyeon day after day must be bewildering. At the Wednesday demonstrations, some far-right groups frequently held counter-demonstrations, so Jeonguiyeon activists might misunderstand these as attempts by pro-Japanese forces to undermine the comfort women movement.

However, these allegations are not intended to disparage the comfort women movement or stop the Wednesday demonstrations. If donations, including those from students who contributed with their small hands for the women's human rights movement at the Wednesday demonstrations, were wasted, it cannot be forgiven by claiming to have done the right thing for 30 years. The Wednesday demonstrations must continue. For that to happen, Jeonguiyeon and Yoon must provide proper explanations. If there were accounting errors, itemized disclosure and apologies are necessary, and if there are parts that require responsibility, they must be duly taken.

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