Moon vows to bolster transparency of civic movement

President Moon Jae-in speaks during a regular meeting with his senior aides at Cheong Wa Dae, June 8. /Yonhap

By Do Je-hae

President Moon Jae-in underlined Monday the need to increase transparency of civic organizations in the wake of the corruption allegations surrounding a civic group advocating for the rights of former wartime former sex slaves.

He also stressed the mounting controversy regarding the Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance for the Issues of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan should not undermine their cause that has continued for almost 30 years.

It was the first time for the President to mention the controversy since it emerged last month, involving ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) lawmaker Yoon Mee-hyang, former head of the council that has supported the victims also called “comfort women.”

While Yoon has faced allegations of misusing government funds and public donations, Lee Yong-soo, one of the victims of wartime sex slavery who raised the suspicions, also faced criticism from DPK supporters.

“Over the last 30 years, the civic movement for comfort women has evolved into an international movement for human rights. This is something that can never be denied or disparaged. The current controversy is an opportunity to reflect on the operations and activities of civic organizations,” Moon said during a meeting with his senior aides at Cheong Wa Dae, Monday, according to press pool reports.

“The civic movement for the comfort women is still ongoing. The pain of the victims has not been completely healed. No sincere apology or reconciliation has yet taken place. The full truth must be revealed and told in order for future generations to learn from history.”

Moon said the controversy could be used as an occasion to improve the movement. “In particular, the government will establish a system to better manage donations in order to fundamentally enhance the transparency of fundraising activities. We will also transparently manage subsidies from central and local government bodies. I urge cooperation in this regard from civic society.”

The President has so far remained silent about the council, despite having placed significant priority on the sex slavery issue since the beginning of his administration.

President Moon rejected the controversial 2015 bilateral deal between Seoul and Tokyo on reparations for the victims, contributing to the deterioration of relations with Japan.