Justice Network "Mapo Shelter Director Struggles, Feels Life is Denied"

Justice Network Issues Statement on Death of Shelter Director for Japanese Military Comfort Women Victims
"Seemed to Struggle After Prosecutors' Search, Life Felt Denied"

Ina-young Lee, Chairperson of the Solidarity for Defending the Defenders, is making a statement in front of Our House of Peace in Mapo-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 7th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Donghoon Jung] A(60), the director of 'Peace Our Home (Mapo Shelter),' a shelter for victims of the Japanese military sexual slavery located in Mapo-gu, Seoul, has taken an extreme step. The Justice and Memory Foundation (Jeonguiyeon) expressed in a condolence statement, "We are heartbroken to suddenly lose the deceased," and added, "The deceased recently found it difficult to accept the situations surrounding Jeonguiyeon."

On the same day, Lee Nayoung, director of Jeonguiyeon, issued a statement regarding A’s death in front of the Mapo Shelter 'Peace Our Home,' saying, "The deceased (Director A) had been in charge of the work at 'Peace Our Home' since 2004, putting aside personal life to prioritize the health and safety of the grandmothers, always staying with them." She continued, "She lived for 16 years as a comrade, friend, and like a daughter to the grandmothers, and even now, she only cared about the health of Grandmother Gil Won-ok, with whom she lived." She added, "She was a person with a pure heart, always putting the grandmothers before herself with sincerity and dedication."

Director Lee said, "(A) expressed psychological distress, saying that after the sudden prosecution raid, it felt as if her entire life was being denied," and "She was spending anxious days amid a flood of phone calls, doorbell rings, and camera flashes." She further requested, "For the sake of the deceased, please stop the human rights-violating and indiscriminate competition in reporting and calmly look at the life of the deceased," and said, "We will respect the wishes of the bereaved family and honor the deceased’s passing with dignity and respect."

According to the Paju Police Station in Gyeonggi Province on the same day, the police received a report from an acquaintance of A on the previous day (6th) stating that "contact was not possible." The police and fire authorities, upon receiving the report, entered A’s apartment in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, at around 10:35 p.m. the same day and found A deceased in the bathroom. The police stated that there were no signs of external intrusion and, at present, no suspicion of homicide. It is known that the decision on an autopsy is being discussed with the bereaved family.

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