President Moon: "Comfort Women Movement Without Comfort Women Is Unthinkable... Strengthening Donation Transparency" (Update)

President Moon Jae-in is presiding over the senior secretaries and aides meeting at the Blue House on the 8th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Son Sun-hee] President Moon Jae-in stated on the 8th, "A comfort women movement without the comfort women grandmothers is unthinkable," and added, "The government will take this controversy as an opportunity to establish an integrated donation management system to fundamentally enhance the transparency of fundraising or sponsorship activities." This was his first message since Grandma Lee Yong-soo, a victim of the comfort women issue, raised allegations of accounting fraud against the Justice Network (Jeonguiyeon) on the 7th of last month.

On the same day, President Moon presided over a senior secretaries and aides meeting at the Blue House and said in his opening remarks, "The controversy surrounding the comfort women movement is very confusing, so I am cautious about speaking," but emphasized, "The cause of the comfort women movement must be firmly upheld." Amid recent personal attacks against Grandma Lee by some fervent supporters within the ruling party, President Moon stressed, "Many have passed away, and only seventeen grandmothers remain by our side. They are all living witnesses to the truth of the comfort women issue," adding, "Especially Grandma Lee Yong-soo is the history of the comfort women movement."

President Moon said, "(Grandma Lee) played a significant role in making the comfort women issue a global matter," and continued, "She was the first to testify vividly about the comfort women issue at the U.S. House of Representatives, decisively contributing to the adoption of the resolution demanding an apology and historical responsibility from the Japanese government, and she also testified for the first time at the French parliament." Furthermore, he noted, "Despite her advanced age of 90, she actively urged the inscription of comfort women records on UNESCO," recalling her efforts to resolve the comfort women issue.

He then emphasized, "The comfort women grandmothers are dignified in themselves, needing no one's recognition, simply for testifying about their harrowing lives and leading the comfort women movement." This can also be interpreted as a warning against the recent indiscriminate personal attacks on Grandma Lee.

President Moon also said, "As a result of 30 years of persistent solidarity and cooperation among victims, activists, and citizens, the comfort women movement has established itself as a global human rights movement," adding, "It is a history that can never be denied or belittled."

However, separate from the value of the comfort women movement that must be respected, he said, "This (Justice Network accounting fraud) controversy has also become an opportunity to reflect on the methods and behaviors of civic organizations."

Quoting the proverb "The ground hardens after the rain," President Moon expressed hope that "the current controversy and trials will serve as a chance to progressively elevate the comfort women movement," and said, "If people can transparently know how their donations or sponsorships are used, the goodwill of the public will be properly utilized, and the culture of giving can mature." He continued, "The government and local governments will also manage subsidies transparently," and urged, "Civic organizations should also make efforts. I ask the public to gather wisdom so that productive discussions can take place for the development of civic movements."

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