Chung raises stake with Japan issues

By Chung Min-uck

Rep. Chung Mong-joon, former Grand National Party (GNP) chairman and one of the ruling party’s potential presidential candidates, now seems focused on issues relating to Japan.

He attended a weekly anti-Japan demonstration to urge the Japanese government to apologize and compensate for drafting Korean women for the purpose of military sexual slavery during the nations’ colonization of Korea, Wednesday.

More than 30 incumbent lawmakers from both the ruling GNP and the opposition Democratic Party (DP) including former GNP floor leader Kim Moo-sung and Rep. Shin Nak-yun of the DP participated in the so-called Wednesday Demonstration held every Wednesday in front of the Japanese Embassy at Junghak-dong, Jongno.

The rallies have taken place since January 1992, organized by civic groups.

“Japan is still trying to avoid its responsibility and hide the truth,” said Chung during a meeting of senior GNP lawmakers held before the demonstration.

“If Japan is to be a civilized country, it should face up to its history.”

On Sunday, he declared his participation of the demonstration describing the crime as one of the worst in human history.

“It’s been 66 years since our independence. It’s our fault that we haven’t revealed the truth of Japan’s military sexual slavery up to this date,” Chung said, urging other lawmakers to join the demonstration.

He also called for the participation of citizens via Twitter.

“It’s our responsibility to ease the deep-rooted resentment of around 200,000 grandmothers,” Chung tweeted on Tuesday.

Out of approximately 200,000 Korean women who suffered forcible conscription into sexual slavery during Japan’s colonization, only 234 victims brought to light their past experiences. Yet, only 70 of the aging victims are still alive.

Last Thursday, Chung handed over a letter to Masatoshi Muto, Japanese Ambassador to Korea, which calls for the resolution of the issue. One hundred and thirty lawmakers signed the document that was sent on to Japan's Prime Minister Naoto Kan.

The GNP’s presidential candidate is currently holding seminars on various pending issues with his advisors in preparation for the presidential race slated for next December.

He is also preparing to publish his autobiography next month.