The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    BTS' Jungkook to drop 2nd solo single

  • 3

    PHOTOSTrapped along borders

  • 5

    Opposition leader Lee again proposes talks with President Yoon

  • 7

    BTS' Jungkook drops 2nd solo single

  • 9

    Korea fails to be included on FTSE Russell's global bond index

  • 11

    Yoon hosts Chuseok luncheon for Korean atomic bomb victims in Hiroshima

  • 13

    VIDEOBustling Chuseok: Namsan Hanok Village immerses visitors in Korea's rich traditions

  • 15

    Builders vie for leadership in modular construction

  • 17

    Following successful Asiad debut, swimmer Hwang Sun-woo turns eyes to bright future

  • 19

    S. Korea cruises past N. Korea in women's basketball

  • 2

    Korea wins gold in League of Legends competition; Faker tops podium

  • 4

    Trailblazing nonagenarian artist honored for redefining Korean fiber art

  • 6

    Pentagon's CWMD strategy document calls N. Korea 'persistent threat'

  • 8

    Are 'finfluencers' helping or harming investment community?

  • 10

    Apple, China met to discuss Beijing's crackdown on western apps: WSJ

  • 12

    Swimmer Kim Woo-min captures 3rd gold in Hangzhou

  • 14

    Second release of Fukushima wastewater to start next week

  • 16

    My left arm: how right-handed shooter won Asiad medal with left hand

  • 18

    S. Korea eliminates N. Korea in women's table tennis doubles

  • 20

    Poll shows 79% of young Koreans agree on need to improve ties with Japan

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
Sun, October 1, 2023 | 01:44
Editorial
Truth in dispute
Posted : 2020-05-12 16:45
Updated : 2020-05-12 22:37
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
Gov't inquiry, dialogue required for resolution

A regrettable feud has erupted between Lee Yong-soo, a 92-year-old survivor of wartime sex slavery by colonial Japan, and Yoon Mi-hyang, former head of the Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance for the Issues of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan.

Lee made bombshell remarks last week when she said she was quitting the Wednesday rally in front of the Japanese Embassy in Seoul that shed light on sex slavery issues. She blamed Yoon -- a lawmaker-elect under the proportional representation system for a party affiliated with the ruling Democratic Party of Korea -- for not making sincere efforts to elicit a formal apology from the Japanese government and compensation.

Lee also accused the council of misappropriating money donated for the welfare of the former "comfort women." The council apologized Monday for causing pain and disappointment, but denied the accusation. The council refused to disclose any financial documents, saying nongovernment organizations were not obliged to do so. The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family should launch an investigation into the council to confirm the misappropriation allegations.

For her part, Yoon expressed regret, but dismissed another allegation that she pocketed the council's money to finance her daughter's studies in the U.S.

Lee is among the 18 surviving victims of Japan's wartime sex slavery registered with the government. She has been a staunch voice in denouncing the crimes against humanity, contributing to a larger women's peace movement in Korea

The council and Yoon should answer the complaints that they have neglected protecting the rights of the slavery victims and addressing their grievances. Yoon, in particular, needs to pay heed to what Lee said. No one can easily understand why Lee and Yoon, who worked together for the past 28 years to denounce Japan's wartime atrocities, are now at odds with each other.

Lee also raised the issue that Yoon failed to notify the survivors about the 1 billion yen ($9.3 million) compensation that Tokyo had agreed to pay under a 2015 agreement with Seoul. She blasted both Yoon and the foreign ministry for not holding any prior consultations with the victims to gather their opinions about the agreement.

The deal with Japan under the then Park Geun-hye administration was shelved by the Moon Jae-in administration, which stated that the surviving victims had not agreed to it.

Yoon, however, blasted the row with Lee as a political scheme led by the conservative bloc including the main opposition United Future Party to discredit her election as a lawmaker.

Both the ruling and opposition blocs should refrain from attempts to claim the moral high ground in this dispute. No constituent is willing to be party to dragged-out political warfare in these pressing times, when it has the possibility to do more harm than good to Korea.





 
miguel
wooribank
LG
Top 10 Stories
1Guide to Chuseok celebrations across Korea Guide to Chuseok celebrations across Korea
2Chuseok exodus begins ahead of extended 6-day holiday Chuseok exodus begins ahead of extended 6-day holiday
3Korea sees record-low births in July Korea sees record-low births in July
4Hyundai E&C to build upmarket apartment complex in Seoul's Gwanak District Hyundai E&C to build upmarket apartment complex in Seoul's Gwanak District
5Political battle intensifies after court rejects Lee's arrest warrant Political battle intensifies after court rejects Lee's arrest warrant
6Korea on track to prove esports prowess at Asian Games Korea on track to prove esports prowess at Asian Games
7[INTERVIEW] Risk-averse culture is forcing daring creators to flee showbiz INTERVIEWRisk-averse culture is forcing daring creators to flee showbiz
8Lotte focuses on health care, mobility to spur growth Lotte focuses on health care, mobility to spur growth
9DMZ Open Int'l Music Festival to be held in Goyang in November DMZ Open Int'l Music Festival to be held in Goyang in November
10Two Koreas trade barbs over nuclear war Two Koreas trade barbs over nuclear war
Top 5 Entertainment News
1[INTERVIEW] 'Coexistence of different art hubs across Asia is necessary': Art Week Tokyo Director INTERVIEW'Coexistence of different art hubs across Asia is necessary': Art Week Tokyo Director
2Trailblazing nonagenarian artist honored for redefining Korean fiber art Trailblazing nonagenarian artist honored for redefining Korean fiber art
3[INTERVIEW] With '30 Days,' Kang Ha-neul finds new level of comfort in acting INTERVIEWWith '30 Days,' Kang Ha-neul finds new level of comfort in acting
4Rwandan artists bring diversity to Seoul's art scene Rwandan artists bring diversity to Seoul's art scene
5[INTERVIEW] ONEUS returns as 'mermaid prince' INTERVIEWONEUS returns as 'mermaid prince'
DARKROOM
  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group