Hosaka Yuji: "Japanese Media Will Say 'Comfort Women Issue Is Fake'"

On July 11, 2018, at the 1,343rd regular Wednesday demonstration for the resolution of the Japanese military sexual slavery issue held on Peace Road in front of the Embassy of Japan in Jongno-gu, Seoul, Yoon Mi-hyang, the elected member of the Democratic Party of Korea (former director of the Justice and Memory Foundation), urged the Japanese government to issue an official apology. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Yeon-ju] Amid the proliferation of speculative articles by Japanese right-wing media regarding allegations surrounding Yoon Mi-hyang, the elected member of the Democratic Party of Korea (former director of the Justice and Memory Foundation), Professor Hosaka Yuji of Sejong University interpreted, "(Japanese media) ultimately want to say that 'the comfort women issue itself is fake.'"

Professor Hosaka appeared on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' on the 25th and said, "Japanese media, especially major internet news outlets under major Japanese media that many Japanese people watch, are covering former director Yoon and the Justice and Memory Foundation issue in more detail than Korean news, and there is a considerable amount of fake news as well."

He explained, "I understand that the Anseong shelter was sold in April, but Japanese news reported that it was sold the day after grandmother Lee Yong-soo's press conference," adding, "They did that because there is some suspicion."

He continued, "They are also reporting in detail on the 2004 case when grandmother Shin Mi-ja, a comfort woman victim, sued the Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance. At that time, they brought up the Asian Women's Fund issue again, saying that former director Yoon Mi-hyang persuaded the comfort women not to accept the 1.5 billion yen received from Japan," and interpreted, "Ultimately, the tone of the Japanese media is highlighting former director Yoon as the culprit who worsens Korea-Japan relations."

He added, "The attack is directed at former director Yoon Mi-hyang, and in the end, they want to say 'the comfort women issue itself is fake.' They probably want to say that the comfort women were not sex slaves," adding, "Japan is expecting such remarks to come out at grandmother Lee Yong-soo's press conference."

Furthermore, "The Justice and Memory Foundation issue involves such a large amount of money that it cannot be covered up, so the suspicions must be clearly resolved," and emphasized, "Also, since accounting issues as a civic organization are not limited to the Justice and Memory Foundation, the government should take this opportunity to firmly reform accounting practices."

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