Why Can't Grandmothers Stand in Front of the Girl Statue?

Conservative Group Occupying Statue of Peace Since June 2020
Repeated Hate Speech and False Claims About Comfort Women
Eventually Legal Battle Between Justice Network and Conservative Group
Human Rights Commission Intervenes, but Conservative Group Demands "Guarantee Freedom of Assembly"

On the last day of the Lunar New Year holiday, February 2, members of Banil Action held a rally in front of the Statue of Peace in front of the former Japanese Embassy in Jongno-gu, Seoul, urging the resolution of the issue of Japanese military sexual slavery. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Gong Byung-sun] On the 16th, civic groups including the Justice and Memory Foundation (Jeonguiyeondae) and the Catholic Women’s Religious Congregations’ Federation filed complaints and accusations against members of conservative groups for violations of the Assembly and Demonstration Act, defamation, and insult. It is alleged that conservative groups have been obstructing the Wednesday Demonstrations by pre-registering assemblies at the location in front of the Statue of Peace. Grandmother Lee Yong-soo is also filing complaints for defamation and insult against Kim Sang-jin, Secretary-General of the Liberty Solidarity, Joo Ok-soon, leader of the Mom’s Army, Kim Byung-heon, head of the Citizens’ Action for the Abolition of the Comfort Women Law, and two unidentified individuals.

The conservative groups are also planning to file counter-complaints. The Citizens’ Action for the Abolition of the Comfort Women Law announced on the 18th that they will file complaints against Han Kyung-hee, Secretary-General of Jeonguiyeondae, and others on the 23rd for insult and defamation. On the 4th, conservative groups had already filed complaints against about 20 members of the Peace Butterfly Network (Peace Butterfly) for violating the Assembly and Demonstration Act. On the same day, Joo Ok-soon, leader of another conservative group Mom’s Army, also filed a complaint against police officers at the Jongno Police Station in Seoul for violations of the Assembly and Demonstration Act and the Police Officer’s Duty Execution Act.

Since 2020, Conservative Groups Occupying the Statue of Peace Site... Repeated Hate Speech Such as “Comfort Women Are Prostitutes”

On the 23rd, the 1532nd Weekly Wednesday Demonstration to Resolve the Issue of Japanese Military Sexual Slavery, hosted by the Justice and Memory Foundation, is being held near the Statue of Peace in Jongno-gu, Seoul. In the background, a banner with a message demanding punishment for former comfort woman Lee Yong-soo, installed by a conservative group, can be seen. Photo by Mo Honam munonam@

The conflict between these groups intensified around June 2020. As suspicions of embezzlement of donations by Yoon Mee-hyang, an independent lawmaker and former chairperson of Jeonguiyeondae, grew, conservative groups began obstructing the Wednesday Demonstrations. They even stayed overnight in front of the Jongno Police Station in Seoul, where assemblies can be registered, to secure the location. Those who had been holding the Wednesday Demonstrations in front of the Statue of Peace, including Jeonguiyeondae members, were left with no choice but to watch.

The obstruction by conservative groups did not stop at securing the location. They also repeatedly made hate speeches through speakers. They claimed that the Japanese military sexual slavery never actually existed and that the claims of the comfort women grandmothers were false. They directed sexual insults and other abuses toward the comfort women grandmothers and participants of the Wednesday Demonstrations. They even likened the comfort women grandmothers to “prostitutes.” Recently, they have also taken up the cause of abolishing the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family (MOGEF), arguing that the ministry should be eliminated because it falsely teaches children about the non-existent Japanese military comfort women.

These actions continued up to the 30th anniversary of the Wednesday Demonstrations held in January. On January 5th, conservative groups again registered an assembly in front of the Statue of Peace and began their obstruction. A farcical scene unfolded where the 30th anniversary commemoration of the Wednesday Demonstrations was held across the street, not in front of the Statue of Peace.

The National Human Rights Commission Also Intervened... How Far Should Freedom of Assembly Be Guaranteed?

Government agencies also stepped in. While freedom of assembly must be guaranteed, these groups’ actions were deemed excessive. On January 17th, the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) recommended that the police actively advise the groups opposing the Wednesday Demonstrations to change the time and place of their assemblies. The police stated that they respect the NHRCK’s recommendation and will review implementation plans.

However, conservative groups opposed the NHRCK’s actions. They argued that the state agency made a biased decision by interfering with constitutionally guaranteed freedom of assembly. On the 9th of last month, Kim Byung-heon, head of the Citizens’ Action for the Abolition of the Comfort Women Law, filed a complaint against Song Doo-hwan, Chairperson of the NHRCK, for abuse of authority and obstruction of rights and violations of the Assembly and Demonstration Act.

While freedom of assembly must certainly be guaranteed, Korean society is suffering in the process. On the 16th, Kim Young-hwan, External Cooperation Officer of the Institute for Korean National Issues, who has been participating in the Wednesday Demonstrations, made the following statement at a press conference.

“In front of the Statue of Peace, we are witnessing some people waving the Rising Sun Flag. I cannot believe that such things are happening in 21st-century Korea.”

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