Justice Network, 1441st Wednesday Rally... Conservative Groups Hold Counter-Rallies Consecutively

Justice Solidarity, 1441st Wednesday Rally on 27th
Lee Nayoung "Prosecutor Investigation Underway, Please Stop Premature Speculation"
Nearby, Conservative Group Holds Counter Rally Using Large Speakers

Lee Nayoung, Director of the Justice and Peace Foundation, is speaking at the 1441st regular Wednesday demonstration to resolve the issue of Japanese military sexual slavery, held on the 27th in front of the former Japanese Embassy in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] Amid ongoing controversies surrounding the Justice and Memory Foundation (Jeonguiyeokyeondae, Jeonguiyeon), including accounting omissions, the Wednesday Demonstration was held as scheduled on the 27th. This was the first demonstration held since grandmother Lee Yong-soo, a victim of the Japanese military sexual slavery, held her second press conference on the 25th.

Jeonguiyeon held the 1441st regular Wednesday Demonstration from 12 PM in front of the former Japanese Embassy in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Despite allegations of misappropriation of donations raised by grandmother Lee Yong-soo on the 7th of this month, Jeonguiyeon held the Wednesday Demonstrations as planned on the 13th, 20th, and on this day, totaling three times.

The demonstration, hosted by the National Women's Solidarity, was broadcast live online as before. A large crowd, including activists, reporters, and citizens, gathered in front of the Statue of the Girl.

Conservative groups critical of Jeonguiyeon, such as the Anti-Japan Statue Truth Investigation Committee and the Free Republic of Korea Patriotic Corps, also gathered around the demonstration site. Some conservative groups used loudspeakers and large speakers to shout slogans like "Disband Jeonguiyeon" and "Arrest Yoon Mi-hyang" throughout the demonstration. Although there were minor exchanges between the two sides, no major clashes occurred.

Former director Yoon Mi-hyang did not appear at the demonstration. Instead, director Lee Na-young of Jeonguiyeon gave a progress report and expressed the foundation’s position regarding the controversy. Director Lee said, "The past week has been a time of pain, frustration, despair, and sorrow," and added, "Following indiscriminate lawsuits and accusations by conservative groups, the prosecution conducted searches on the 20th and 21st."

Director Lee expressed discomfort, stating, "On the 20th, the prosecution conducted a 12-hour search of Jeonguiyeon’s office and the War and Women’s Human Rights Museum," and "On the 21st, they even raided the Mapo shelter where grandmother Gil Won-ok, who is unwell, resides." During this, Director Lee appeared emotional and choked up briefly.

Lee Na-young, Chairperson of the Justice Memory Solidarity, is speaking at the 1441st regular Wednesday demonstration to resolve the issue of Japanese military sexual slavery in front of the former Japanese Embassy in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 27th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

She said, "We were preparing audit materials as part of an external accounting verification process and had agreed to submit shelter documents to the prosecution, but the sadness and sorrow were indescribable," emphasizing, "Nevertheless, Jeonguiyeon cooperated fully with all investigative procedures and tried to respond as sincerely as possible to the barrage of media allegations."

Director Lee also mentioned grandmother Lee Yong-soo’s second press conference. She said, "My heart aches, and I sincerely apologize. We all deeply accept the roots of her profound pain, resentment, and disappointment," and added, "We took it as a call to reflect on the unresolved causes of the struggles and victims’ suffering over the past 30 years."

She appealed, "Since the prosecution’s investigation is ongoing, please stop premature speculation," and "Please exercise a little restraint, considering what will remain after the terrible storm’s blade."

Meanwhile, civic groups such as the Action Alliance for the Restoration of the Rule of Law and the Judicial Examination Preparation Group have filed successive complaints since the 11th of this month against Yoon and other Jeonguiyeon officials for charges including fraud, embezzlement, and breach of trust related to donation misuse and the high-priced purchase of the Anseong shelter. Subsequently, allegations regarding Yoon’s cash apartment purchase and the source of her daughter’s study abroad expenses, raised by the media, have also surfaced. Currently, the Seoul Western District Prosecutors’ Office is investigating about ten related complaints against Jeonguiyeon, Jeongdaehyeop, and Yoon.

The prosecution conducted searches on three locations between the 20th and 21st: Jeonguiyeon’s office in Mapo-gu, the War and Women’s Human Rights Museum, and the shelter for Japanese military sexual slavery victims called "Our House of Peace." The day before, the foundation’s accounting officer was also summoned as a witness for the first investigation.

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