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 President
  • 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
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 President
  • 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
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

    Netflix apologizes for filming 'Single's Inferno 3' in marine sanctuary

  • 3

    In-N-Out Burger pop-up store attracts record crowd

  • 5

    Calls grow for female flight attendants to ditch skirts for pants

  • 7

    Hamburger franchises having trouble in M&A market

  • 9

    Man gets five-year jail term for K-pop concert ticket fraud

  • 11

    Small business owners urge stricter rules on migrant workers switching jobs

  • 13

    Transgender cyclist looks to spark debate in historic appearance

  • 15

    Suspect in grisly Busan murder sent to prosecutors for further probe

  • 17

    Nexon case reignites controversy over high level of inheritance tax

  • 19

    JYP to expand partnership with US music label

  • 2

    BTS' RM named honorary ambassador of war-remains excavation agency

  • 4

    'BLACKPINK the Game' showcases group's unique charm

  • 6

    EXO's Baekhyun, Xiumin and Chen in dispute with SM over contract issue

  • 8

    Pyongyang seeks to portray rocket as science effort by admitting failure: experts

  • 10

    Hallyu inspires Thailand to mull ways to export its culture

  • 12

    Police send girlfriend murder suspect to prosecution

  • 14

    From hardcore action to heart-throbbing romance, series to hit in June

  • 16

    Pandas at Everland become tourist magnet

  • 18

    S. Korea succeeds in L-SAM missile interception test for 3rd time

  • 20

    INTERVIEWFrench photographer highlights amazing transformations of dog meat farm survivors

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
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Sat, June 3, 2023 | 07:05
Foreign Affairs
Sex slavery activist Youn under fire for not sharing details of settlement with victims
Posted : 2022-05-27 17:34
Updated : 2022-05-30 09:01
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
Kim Tae-hoon, a representative of Lawyers for Human Rights and Unification of Korea, unveils a document from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs about meetings between Youn Mee-hyang, former head of the Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance for the Issues of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan, and a ministry official ahead of the 2015 agreement between Korea and Japan on settling the sex slavery incident, at the organization's office in southern Seoul, Thursday. Yonhap
Kim Tae-hoon, a representative of Lawyers for Human Rights and Unification of Korea, unveils a document from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs about meetings between Youn Mee-hyang, former head of the Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance for the Issues of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan, and a ministry official ahead of the 2015 agreement between Korea and Japan on settling the sex slavery incident, at the organization's office in southern Seoul, Thursday. Yonhap

By Kwon Mee-yoo

Youn Mee-hyang, a sex slavery activist-turned-lawmaker, is once again under fire for not being up front about what she knew and when she knew it, regarding a controversial 2015 settlement deal between Korea and Japan on the historical issue.

New evidence shows she was informed of the settlement ahead of its official announcement. Previously, she was accused of keeping the details of the agreement a secret from the victims of Japan's wartime sex slavery.

Lawyers for Human Rights and Unification of Korea (LHUK) unveiled four documents detailing the talks between Youn and an official in charge of Northeast Asia at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Thursday. The documents suggest that Youn had known the details of the settlement before it was released.

The lawyers' organization filed an information disclosure suit against the ministry, and the ministry said it hopes that the document will clarify factual grounds of the controversy regarding the agreement.

According to the LHUK, Youn, then the head of the Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance for the Issues of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan, met with the foreign ministry official four times, including on Dec. 27, 2015, the day before the agreement was declared, and was informed of the details of the agreement.

Explaining the document, the ministry official mentioned the three main actions of Japan that the country regrets concerning wartime sex slavery, adding that the Japanese prime minister will officially apologize and saying that Japan will provide 1 billion yen to the foundation for the victims.

The document had some parts redacted, including Youn's response to the ministry official, as the court designated the range of information to be released.

Kim Tae-hoon, a representative of Lawyers for Human Rights and Unification of Korea, unveils a document from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs about meetings between Youn Mee-hyang, former head of the Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance for the Issues of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan, and a ministry official ahead of the 2015 agreement between Korea and Japan on settling the sex slavery incident, at the organization's office in southern Seoul, Thursday. Yonhap
Activist-turned-lawmaker Youn Mee-hyang, left, and surviving wartime sex slavery victim Lee Yong-soo / Korea Times file

However, Youn refuted the LHUK the same day, saying she had contacted the foreign ministry during the negotiation process and shared the details with the victims, but that she did not know the exact details of the final agreement. Youn claimed that the revealed documents only reaffirm that she did not know the details of Korea's statement, over which she raised questions.

The Korean side's statement mentioned that the agreement would resolve the wartime sex slavery issue finally and irreversibly, that the Korean government would cooperate on removing the "comfort woman" memorial statue in front of the former site of the Japanese Embassy in Seoul and that it would refrain from confronting Japan over this issue in the international community in the future. Youn described these provisions as "humiliating."

Despite Youn's claims, the former activist is not supported by all surviving sex slavery victims. Lee Yong-soo, a 94-year-old survivor of Japan's sexual exploitation, reasserted her claims after the LHUK's unveiling that Youn had not informed the victims of Japan's settlement in advance.

"Youn should have shared the details of the settlement with the victims, but she didn't because she knew the victims would oppose the settlement. That is why Youn keeps lying," Lee said.

Youn is currently on trial for alleged embezzlement of public donations to the sex slavery victims.


Emailmeeyoo@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
wooribank
Top 10 Stories
1Roland Garros 2023 Roland Garros 2023
2Airlines fiercely compete to acquire additional aircraft Airlines fiercely compete to acquire additional aircraft
3More banks offer daily interest payments on deposits More banks offer daily interest payments on deposits
4Seoul imposes sanctions on North Korean hacking group for role in space launch Seoul imposes sanctions on North Korean hacking group for role in space launch
5Hyundai Elevator launches AI, IoT-powered maintenance service Hyundai Elevator launches AI, IoT-powered maintenance service
6POSCO, GM expand joint EV battery materials investment in North America POSCO, GM expand joint EV battery materials investment in North America
7LG Chem joins Korean firms strengthening ties with Japan LG Chem joins Korean firms strengthening ties with Japan
8HMM tasked with preventing sale of Hyundai LNG to foreign firm HMM tasked with preventing sale of Hyundai LNG to foreign firm
9Korean stocks feared to lose steam on prolonged trade deficit, real estate doldrums Korean stocks feared to lose steam on prolonged trade deficit, real estate doldrums
10KAERI distances itself from Oxford professor's claim on Fukushima water KAERI distances itself from Oxford professor's claim on Fukushima water
Top 5 Entertainment News
1'HyeMiLeeYeChaePa' producer Lee Tae-kyung hopeful of second season 'HyeMiLeeYeChaePa' producer Lee Tae-kyung hopeful of second season
2How artist Michael Rakowitz resurrects lost past of Iraq through food packaging How artist Michael Rakowitz resurrects lost past of Iraq through food packaging
3From hardcore action to heart-throbbing romance, series to hit in June From hardcore action to heart-throbbing romance, series to hit in June
4[INTERVIEW] Lee Jun-hyuk unrecognizable in 'The Roundup: No Way Out' INTERVIEWLee Jun-hyuk unrecognizable in 'The Roundup: No Way Out'
5'Elemental' director on bringing his personal story of immigration to cinema 'Elemental' director on bringing his personal story of immigration to cinema
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