We condemn South Korean President Yoon’s betrayal of “Comfort Women” and Forced Labor Victims

Dear supporters,

We are writing to you today with heavy hearts as we share the recent developments regarding the “comfort women” and forced laborer’s issue.

It is with great disappointment and anger that we must report the South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s position in agreeing with Japan’s attempts to deny, whitewash and revise its historical wrongs, including the “comfort women” issue.

with President Biden, President Yoon said, “I can’t accept the notion that because of

what happened 100 years ago, something is absolutely impossible [to do] and that they [Japanese] must kneel [for forgiveness] because of our history 100 years ago.”

Washington Post reporter’s tweet refuting the Korean ruling Party’s accusation that the President’s words were mistranslated.

President Yoon’s above statement is an absolute insult to the victims and survivors of Japan’s brutal military sexual slavery system of Korea and other countries. It is a betrayal of his promise to Grandma Lee Yong-soo that he would get Japan’s apology even if he did not win the presidential election, and a disregard for the victims and their families who continue to suffer from the trauma inflicted upon them. This is a gross minimization of the atrocities committed during Japan’s colonial rule of Korea and a slap in the face to those seeking justice and accountability.

It is also a betrayal of the forced labor victims who suffered under Japanese colonialism and were forced to work in inhumane conditions for Japanese companies like Mitsubishi. President Yoon’s recent suggestion to compensate the forced labor victims with funds raised from South Korean companies, instead of holding Japanese companies responsibile for their actions, negates the Korean Supreme Court’s decision that ordered the Japanese companies to pay compensation to the forced labor victims. Grandma Yang Geum-deok, one of the plaintiffs who filed the above-mentioned lawsuit against Japanese companies, stated, “I won’t receive the money [raised from South Korean companies] even if I starve to death!” and demanded “Yoon Suk Yeol out!” Citizens of Korea are outraged, and we are too.

We cannot stand idly by while historical wrongs are being revised and erased.  We must continue to fight for justice and raise awareness about these issues.  It is more important now than ever that we come together and support the victims and survivors of Japan’s atrocities, and fight against Japan’s history revisionism.

Please join us on FB, Twitter, Instagram and other social media platform to condemn any attempts to revise and erase history.

We will continue to demand accountability from the Japanese government and will not accept any attempt to deny or downplay Japan’s responsibility in the “comfort women” issue. We ask for your continued support in our fight for justice.

Sincerely,

Phyllis Kim
Executive Director
Comfort Women Action for Redress and Education (CARE)