Japanese Sankei: "It Would Be Good to Remove the Statue of Peace Quickly"

Statue of Peace installed in front of the former Japanese Embassy in Jongno-gu, Seoul [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Yeon-ju] As the Justice and Memory Solidarity (Jeong-ui-yeon) has become the center of controversy over accounting and operations, a Japanese right-wing newspaper has demanded the removal of the 'Statue of Peace' and the suspension of the Wednesday Demonstrations.

On the 20th, Sankei Shimbun emphasized in an editorial titled "Stop Anti-Japan Rallies and Remove the Statue of Peace," saying, "It would be good to listen to the criticism and promptly remove the comfort woman statue (Statue of Peace), a symbol of anti-Japan hatred."

The newspaper reported that grandmother Lee Yong-soo, a victim of the Japanese military comfort women, said about the Wednesday Demonstrations, "'They are teaching hatred,' and 'the rallies should be stopped,'" adding, "Lee also criticized the operation of the rally organizing group she has been working with. The Moon Jae-in administration has a responsibility to not stand by and to respond appropriately, including investigations."

It further stated, "Although it is unclear why Lee is intensifying her criticism of Jeong-ui-yeon this time, the claim that the anti-Japan rallies should stop is correct," and "highlighting the group's inappropriate operations is also significant."

The newspaper also mentioned the Jeong-ui-yeon controversy in its international news and opinion columns. In an international news article titled "History War," it covered the content that "allegations of misappropriation of funds raised for comfort women have surfaced, leading to complaints from various civic groups, and the prosecution is preparing to investigate."

Additionally, Professor Risotetsu of Ryukoku University, often appearing in Japanese right-wing media, raised doubts in a Sankei Shimbun column that day, asking, "Did we not know that under the name of justice, there are groups or individuals advocating 'anti-Japan,' receiving government subsidies, collecting donations, using them for their livelihood, and aiming to enter politics?"

Introducing the Jeong-ui-yeon controversy, Professor Ri also asked, "First, I want to ask President Moon. You have always said that resolving the comfort women issue and forced labor (forced mobilization victims) requires 'victims' consent,' but who are the 'victims'?"

Earlier, on the 17th, Asahi Shimbun published an interview with Professor Kimura Kan of Kobe University (Korean Peninsula Studies) titled "Comfort Women Issue, Possibility of Structural Change. Strong Dissatisfaction with Support Groups."

Professor Kimura said, "This incident is ultimately a problem surrounding Jeong-ui-yeon's operations, so in the short term, it is better not to think that this will affect Japan-Korea relations," and "This does not change the position of the comfort women issue in Korean society."

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