Memorial Event for Son Mo, Director of 'Mapo Shelter'... "Always Valued Grandmother's Well-being"

On the evening of the 9th, civic groups including the Justice and Memory Foundation (Jeonguiyeondae), the Korean Residents Union in Japan school support group 'Kim Bokdong's Dream', and the Korean Women's Associations United held a memorial ceremony at the funeral hall set up at Sinchon Severance Hospital, attended by about 100 fellow activists and civic group members. The photo shows Inayeong, chairperson of Jeonguiyeondae, delivering a memorial speech. Photo by Inayeong

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] On the evening of the 9th, a day before the funeral of Son Mo (60), the director of the Japanese military comfort women victims' shelter "Peace Our Home (Mapo Shelter)" located in Mapo-gu, Seoul, who passed away on the 6th, a memorial event was held in his honor.

On the 9th, civic groups including the Justice and Memory Foundation (Jeonguiyeon), the Korean Residents' School Support Group in Japan "Kim Bok-dong's Dream," and the Korean Women's Associations United gathered about 100 fellow activists and civic organization officials at the funeral hall set up at Sinchon Severance Hospital to hold a memorial event. The memorial was live-streamed on YouTube with press access restricted.

Lee Na-young, director of Jeonguiyeon, said in her memorial speech, "(Director Son) was distressed by the prosecution's excessive investigation and the media's indiscriminate competition for coverage, and was anxious every day, yet he prioritized the well-being of grandmother Gil Won-ok at the shelter," adding, "I am truly sorry we could not protect him until the end." She continued, "I thank the women's rights and peace civic groups and funeral committee members who took charge of the funeral procedures without hesitation, those who came to pay their respects despite their busy daily lives, and all the citizens who sent messages of support and encouragement in various ways."

Han Guk-yeom, representative of the Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance for the Issues of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan (Jeongdaehyeop), recalled, "When I thought of Director Son, the memory that came to mind was 'a person who gave up on himself,'" adding, "He cared for the grandmothers with utmost sincerity, never once showing irritation despite hardships, and rather said he gained strength from the grandmothers accepting and recognizing him."

Director Son's funeral will be held at 8 a.m. on the 10th.

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