On February 5, at a plenary meeting of the National Assembly’s Gender Equality and Family Committee, the amendment to the Act on the Protection and Support of and Commemorative Projects for Japanese Military 'Comfort Women' Victims under Japanese Colonial Rule was passed by agreement between the ruling and opposition parties. This holds great significance in that, in response to acts that have long insulted the victims and distorted history, the state has finally responded with clear legal standards and the language of responsibility.
Immediately after the amendment to the act passed the plenary meeting of the Gender Equality and Family Committee, Representative Seo Young-kyo held a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Hall at 11:20 a.m. on February 5 to discuss its significance. Lee Na-young, Chairperson of the Korean Council, also participated in the press conference. She emphasized that the amendment clearly affirmed at the legal level that the Japanese military sexual slavery was an organized crime committed by the state and a grave human rights violation, and that the repeated defamation of victims by history denialists should be regarded as a clear subject of punishment. She also urged the National Assembly to ensure the amendment to the act is passed in the February extraordinary session.
Representative Park Hong-bae of the Democratic Party of Korea, a member of the National Assembly’s Gender Equality and Family Committee, also attended the press conference. He criticized the insults and dissemination of false information by history denialists who have disrupted the Wednesday Demonstrations for around five years. He also expressed regret that the bill did not fully address the level of punishment for defamation and the spread of false information, or provisions specifying the state’s obligations regarding the Statue of Peace. Nevertheless, although belated, the passage of the amendment to the act through agreement between the ruling and opposition parties is highly meaningful.
It is regrettable that this amendment did not include provisions directly prohibiting acts of terror against or damage to memorials for victims of Japanese military “comfort women,” including the Statue of Peace. Even so, the newly added provision requiring the state to “conduct a fact-finding survey to determine the installation and management status of symbols or sculptures installed to commemorate victims of Japanese military ‘comfort women’” is significant. It recognizes that commemorative sculptures for victims of Japanese military “comfort women” are objects of public responsibility that the state must officially identify, manage, and protect. It was also promised that additional matters not fully addressed in this amendment would be proposed again as legislation and discussed thoroughly.
The amendment now awaits review by the National Assembly’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee and a vote at the plenary session. The National Assembly must ensure the amendment's final passage during the February extraordinary session.
On February 5, at a plenary meeting of the National Assembly’s Gender Equality and Family Committee, the amendment to the Act on the Protection and Support of and Commemorative Projects for Japanese Military 'Comfort Women' Victims under Japanese Colonial Rule was passed by agreement between the ruling and opposition parties. This holds great significance in that, in response to acts that have long insulted the victims and distorted history, the state has finally responded with clear legal standards and the language of responsibility.
Immediately after the amendment to the act passed the plenary meeting of the Gender Equality and Family Committee, Representative Seo Young-kyo held a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Hall at 11:20 a.m. on February 5 to discuss its significance. Lee Na-young, Chairperson of the Korean Council, also participated in the press conference. She emphasized that the amendment clearly affirmed at the legal level that the Japanese military sexual slavery was an organized crime committed by the state and a grave human rights violation, and that the repeated defamation of victims by history denialists should be regarded as a clear subject of punishment. She also urged the National Assembly to ensure the amendment to the act is passed in the February extraordinary session.
Representative Park Hong-bae of the Democratic Party of Korea, a member of the National Assembly’s Gender Equality and Family Committee, also attended the press conference. He criticized the insults and dissemination of false information by history denialists who have disrupted the Wednesday Demonstrations for around five years. He also expressed regret that the bill did not fully address the level of punishment for defamation and the spread of false information, or provisions specifying the state’s obligations regarding the Statue of Peace. Nevertheless, although belated, the passage of the amendment to the act through agreement between the ruling and opposition parties is highly meaningful.
It is regrettable that this amendment did not include provisions directly prohibiting acts of terror against or damage to memorials for victims of Japanese military “comfort women,” including the Statue of Peace. Even so, the newly added provision requiring the state to “conduct a fact-finding survey to determine the installation and management status of symbols or sculptures installed to commemorate victims of Japanese military ‘comfort women’” is significant. It recognizes that commemorative sculptures for victims of Japanese military “comfort women” are objects of public responsibility that the state must officially identify, manage, and protect. It was also promised that additional matters not fully addressed in this amendment would be proposed again as legislation and discussed thoroughly.
The amendment now awaits review by the National Assembly’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee and a vote at the plenary session. The National Assembly must ensure the amendment's final passage during the February extraordinary session.