On May 21, the Korean Council sent an inquiry letter to the leading candidates of the 21st presidential election, Lee Jae-myung (Democratic Party of Korea), Kim Moon-soo (People Power Party), Lee Jun-seok (Reform New Party), and Kwon Young-guk (Korean Democratic Labor Party) asking for their positions on the issue of resolving the Japanese military sexual slavery.
The key points of the inquiry were:
1. Legislative Tasks: Positions on revising the Enforcement Decree of the Act on Protection, Support and Commemorative Projects for Sexual Slavery Victims for the Japanese Imperial Army (Act of Protection on Japanese Military "Comfort Women")
2. Diplomatic Tasks: Whether the candidate would exercise diplomatic protection for victims who won damage claim lawsuits against the Japanese government and make diplomatic efforts to obtain a sincere apology and legal reparation from the Japanese government.
3. Political/Diplomatic Tasks: Position on the null and void of the “2015 Korea-Japan Agreement” and the return of the remaining funds from the Reconciliation and Healing Foundation to the national treasury
4. Protection of Statues of Peace Overseas: Measures to protect Statues of Peace abroad
The responses were collected and announced to the public at the 1,702nd Wednesday Demonstration.
Parties that defend the instigators of insurrection and prioritize the abolition of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family as a key pledge did not respond at all. We strongly condemn these parties for neglecting their duties.
The Democratic Party of Korea responded in the morning that it is still reviewing the inquiry and would not be able to provide full answers today. While it is disappointing not to have received a complete response, we urge the Democratic Party to respond swiftly and assertively to the urgent tasks surrounding the Japanese military sexual slavery issue.
The Democratic Party’s policy, released this morning, includes the following pledges related to the issue:
Excerpts from the Democratic Party of Korea’s Central Policy
Page 45 – Expansion of archival resources related to forced mobilization and Japanese military “comfort women”
Restoration of reduced budgets for historical, territorial, and human rights research Prioritized support for international public awareness campaigns on historical issues Expansion of archives related to forced mobilization and Japanese military “comfort women”
Page 49 – Pledges related to Japanese military “comfort women”
Protection of victims’ dignity and raising historical awareness Legal provisions prohibiting and punishing human rights violations and defamation of victims Expansion of public designation and management of monuments commemorating victims Full liquidation process of the Reconciliation and Healing Foundation National-level promotion of the UNESCO Memory of the World Memory register listing of Japanese military "comfort women" records Establishment of a Foundation for Women’s Human Rights and Peace (tentative name)
Page 73 – Continued efforts to resolve sensitive historical issues
Economic Security and Peace on the Korean Peninsula 09 We will advance diplomatic relations with the four neighboring countries through pragmatic diplomacy centered on national interest. |
The Korean Democratic Labor Party, represented by candidate Kwon Young-guk, previously attended the 1,700th Wednesday Demonstration and courageously denounced far-right history denialists. We deeply thank the party for responding to the inquiry despite the busy campaign period. We believe this was not merely a response to our inquiry but a message of solidarity with all who wish for justice in resolving the Japanese military sexual slavery issue.
Candidate Kwon Young-guk agreed with all four inquiries and offered the following additional pledges:
Support and Restoration of Honor for Victims: Organized collection, research, and preservation of historical materials
Establishing Correct Korea-Japan Relations: Demand for a sincere national apology from the Japanese government regarding historical issues
On May 21, the Korean Council sent an inquiry letter to the leading candidates of the 21st presidential election, Lee Jae-myung (Democratic Party of Korea), Kim Moon-soo (People Power Party), Lee Jun-seok (Reform New Party), and Kwon Young-guk (Korean Democratic Labor Party) asking for their positions on the issue of resolving the Japanese military sexual slavery.
The key points of the inquiry were:
1. Legislative Tasks: Positions on revising the Enforcement Decree of the Act on Protection, Support and Commemorative Projects for Sexual Slavery Victims for the Japanese Imperial Army (Act of Protection on Japanese Military "Comfort Women")
2. Diplomatic Tasks: Whether the candidate would exercise diplomatic protection for victims who won damage claim lawsuits against the Japanese government and make diplomatic efforts to obtain a sincere apology and legal reparation from the Japanese government.
3. Political/Diplomatic Tasks: Position on the null and void of the “2015 Korea-Japan Agreement” and the return of the remaining funds from the Reconciliation and Healing Foundation to the national treasury
4. Protection of Statues of Peace Overseas: Measures to protect Statues of Peace abroad
The responses were collected and announced to the public at the 1,702nd Wednesday Demonstration.
Parties that defend the instigators of insurrection and prioritize the abolition of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family as a key pledge did not respond at all. We strongly condemn these parties for neglecting their duties.
The Democratic Party of Korea responded in the morning that it is still reviewing the inquiry and would not be able to provide full answers today. While it is disappointing not to have received a complete response, we urge the Democratic Party to respond swiftly and assertively to the urgent tasks surrounding the Japanese military sexual slavery issue.
The Democratic Party’s policy, released this morning, includes the following pledges related to the issue:
Page 45 – Expansion of archival resources related to forced mobilization and Japanese military “comfort women”
Page 49 – Pledges related to Japanese military “comfort women”Restoration of reduced budgets for historical, territorial, and human rights research
Prioritized support for international public awareness campaigns on historical issues
Expansion of archives related to forced mobilization and Japanese military “comfort women”
Page 73 – Continued efforts to resolve sensitive historical issuesProtection of victims’ dignity and raising historical awareness
Legal provisions prohibiting and punishing human rights violations and defamation of victims
Expansion of public designation and management of monuments commemorating victims
Full liquidation process of the Reconciliation and Healing Foundation
Prompt resolution of the remaining funds provided by Japan
National-level promotion of the UNESCO Memory of the World Memory register listing of Japanese military "comfort women" records
Establishment of a Foundation for Women’s Human Rights and Peace (tentative name)
Comprehensive system for research, archiving, and international solidarity
Economic Security and Peace on the Korean Peninsula 09
We will advance diplomatic relations with the four neighboring countries through pragmatic diplomacy centered on national interest.
Promoting Future-Oriented Korea-Japan Relations
Continuing future-oriented cooperation between Korea and Japan in areas such as the economy, security, and people-to-people exchange
Strengthening Korea-Japan consultations and cooperation to maintain and develop the Korea-U.S. alliance and Korea-U.S.-Japan trilateral cooperation
Continuing efforts to resolve sensitive issues, including historical disputes
The Korean Democratic Labor Party, represented by candidate Kwon Young-guk, previously attended the 1,700th Wednesday Demonstration and courageously denounced far-right history denialists. We deeply thank the party for responding to the inquiry despite the busy campaign period. We believe this was not merely a response to our inquiry but a message of solidarity with all who wish for justice in resolving the Japanese military sexual slavery issue.
Candidate Kwon Young-guk agreed with all four inquiries and offered the following additional pledges:
Support and Restoration of Honor for Victims: Organized collection, research, and preservation of historical materials
Establishing Correct Korea-Japan Relations: Demand for a sincere national apology from the Japanese government regarding historical issues