"Human Rights Commission Urgent Relief Recommendation on 'Wednesday Protest Clash'... Police Must Prevent Obstruction"

On the 5th, the 1525th Wednesday Demonstration for the resolution of the Japanese military sexual slavery issue is being held near the former Japanese Embassy in Jongno-gu, Seoul. The Wednesday Demonstrations, which first began in 1992, will mark their 30th anniversary on the 8th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] Amid ongoing clashes related to the regular Wednesday demonstrations seeking resolution of the Japanese military 'comfort women' issue, the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) has determined that urgent relief measures are necessary and has recommended that the police restrain acts that disrupt the Wednesday gatherings.

On the 17th, the NHRCK announced that it recommended the chief of the Jongno Police Station in Seoul to actively encourage the opposing demonstration groups to hold their assemblies at different times and locations so as not to interfere with the regular Wednesday demonstrations.

The NHRCK also advised that the opposing groups be urged or warned on-site to cease acts that disrupt the Wednesday demonstrations and to refrain from defamation or insults against participants. Furthermore, it recommended that if participants in the Wednesday gatherings request punishment, the police should actively restrain and investigate such acts.

The network of five organizations supporting victims of the Japanese military 'comfort women,' including Justice Network (Jeonguiyeon), filed a complaint with the NHRCK earlier this month, requesting urgent relief measures, citing the police's lukewarm response to acts disrupting the Wednesday demonstrations. Since late May 2020, when allegations of embezzlement and accounting irregularities related to Justice Network surfaced, the conservative group Liberty Solidarity has been occupying the demonstration registration office at Jongno Police Station as 'night watchmen,' promptly registering assemblies at midnight to preemptively secure the location for their demonstrations.

The police submitted their opinion to the NHRCK stating, "Considering the priority of registrations, we coordinate to ensure peaceful assemblies and deploy substantial personnel on demonstration days to thoroughly guard against clashes." They also conveyed that if assemblies were restrained due to certain acts or remarks made during the gatherings, it could constitute excessive use of public authority and infringe upon the freedom of assembly and demonstration.

However, the NHRCK focused on the fact that the Wednesday demonstrations have been held at the same time and place every week since January 1992, making it the world's longest-running demonstration. The NHRCK explained, "We judged that this case should not be approached merely as a matter of coordinating two assemblies that should be protected occurring simultaneously at the same location, but rather should focus on establishing protective measures for the world's longest-running demonstration that pursues justice and truth and seeks accountability for injustice."

Additionally, the NHRCK stated, "There is concern that disruptive acts by opposing groups against the Wednesday demonstrations will continue in the future, and if the police respond lukewarmly, there is a likelihood that the disruptions will persist." It added, "If the Wednesday demonstrations, which have been held at the same place and time every week for 30 years, cannot continue, it would result in irreparable damage by losing the purpose and historical significance of the demonstrations," recommending urgent relief measures.

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