Grandmother I Yong-su: "Do not abolish the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family"... Lee Jun-seok: "No change in position"

Yongsoo Lee "Request to Refer to UN Convention Against Torture"
People Power Party "We Will Strive to Pass the Resolution"

Lee Jun-seok, the leader of the People Power Party, is meeting with grandmother Lee Yong-soo, a comfort women victim, at the National Assembly on the 10th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Hyun-ji] Lee Jun-seok, the leader of the People Power Party, rejected the request of grandmother Lee Yong-soo, a surviving victim of the Japanese military sexual slavery, to not abolish the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, citing election pledges as the reason. He stated that if he wins the presidential election, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family will be abolished, but women's rights can be managed by other ministries.

On the 10th, after meeting with grandmother Lee Yong-soo at the National Assembly, Lee told reporters, “(Abolishing the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family) is a matter we pledged and have thoroughly reviewed, so there will be no change in our position.” During the meeting with Lee, Rep. Ha Tae-kyung, and others from the People Power Party, grandmother Lee directly expressed her opposition to abolishing the ministry, saying, “Do not abolish the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. Without it, we would have died.” The pledge to abolish the ministry is one of the main pledges of Yoon Seok-youl, the People Power Party’s presidential candidate.

Regarding grandmother Lee’s remarks, Lee Jun-seok said, “I interpret it as a hope that support for the victims of sexual slavery will not be disrupted,” and added, “I expect that ministries with more practical and stronger negotiating power will take charge of this issue.” This suggests strengthening women’s and human rights ministries, but not necessarily through the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family.

Lee also criticized the Moon Jae-in administration’s response to the sexual slavery issue and promised more active support. He said, “The diplomatic measures and support activities for the victims promised by the Moon administration were not carried out by the diplomatic authorities, and the Democratic Party did not provide active help either,” and emphasized, “We (People Power Party) will work harder to actively support activist Lee Yong-soo’s activities.”

Grandmother Lee responded, “I was worried because there was no word from the People Power Party until now, but it shows that you have been working hard and always thinking about us. Maybe there was a misunderstanding.” She also requested the People Power Party to refer the sexual slavery issue to the UN Convention Against Torture at the National Assembly level. In response, Rep. Ha said, “We will ensure that the resolution the grandmother wants is passed immediately.” Rep. Yang Geum-hee of the People Power Party, who introduced the ‘Resolution Urging Referral to the UN Convention Against Torture,’ also said, “We will try to fulfill the grandmother’s wish.” The UN Convention Against Torture is an international human rights treaty adopted to prevent torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment. Victim groups of sexual slavery have urged the Moon administration to resolve the issue through this convention.

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