South Korean sex slave campaigner charged with embezzlement

This is despicable beyond belief, and it is exactly the same thing I mentioned before.

This "activist group" never stood for anything but lining its own pockets, while continuing to fan the flame of anti-Japanese hatred. That this person used this fund that was meant for the Comfort Women for their own personal use, I cannot even begin to describe how sickening that is.

And look at those ignorant people in the photo. Japan HAS apologized to the Comfort Women, twice in fact on official record including back in 2015. How ironic that these people are the very people that accuse Japan of whitewashing and denying history.

No one should wonder why the Japanese government is hesitant to further settle any claims, when this is the kind of thing they are subject to. Why pay money and apologize, when groups like these seek to have them nullified and continue the anti-Japanese ignorance?

And down voting is not a proper response.

people who cry for pointless "reparations" even after everything is settled are pretty much the same everywhere, they just want easy cash...

Wow, this woman... What a piece of trash

There have also been plenty of times that Japanese politicians have denied colonial and wartime tragedies ever happened too.

Right wingers parade around in mock military uniforms at Yasukuni shrine celebrating the spectacle they cause.

Not much regret on display in Japan for the millions killed under Japanese Imperialism either by way of memorials.

Actions not words are needed if Japan is to convince Koreans.

Disgusting, but not surprising. And this is why these "activists" should be ignored by Japan. No one deserves one more yen, there is no issue any more.

Let us hope PM Suga retains PM Abes super tough stance against Korean bullying, and does not try to improve relations.

The indicted MP was from the same party as the president, Moon. Sorry, can't read Hangul, but at the time of this posting the English sites for Yonhap, Chosun Ilbo, Hankyoreh, make not mention of this. The Korean Herald has an article but it's not the headlines, and there aren't any articles about Moon slamming this corruption.

There is nothing surprising here. ALL money collecting, no matter how good the cause, produces corruption. The temptation to put their hand in the cookie jar is just too irresistible for many folks. Only those more equal than others are able to get away with this type of shenanigan and enjoy their ill-gotten gains.

"Apologize"

Again? and how much this time???

Move on! This sucks already!

Japan did pretty well during the Korean war. Got a nice boost to manufacturing making tanks destined for Korea. It was good luck.

-South Korea is the only Asian country to build comfort women statues anti-Japan.

-The only Asian country to ask for compensation, receive it, not once multiple times and still say its not good enough.

-South Korea is the only Asian country to ask for apologies, but never be satisfied. They have received over 50, and still not good enough.

-South Korea is the only country we signed a Final Deal in 1965, money paid. Now they want a new Final Deal in 2020. They want a rewrite, more money, new apology. 2 years later not enough Japan.

-South Korea the most Anti-Japan country in the world, the more you pay, the more you apologies, the more you fuel the fire.

Finally caught with the hands in the cookie jar and make our tax money pay for her personal affairs. No more.

LOL, basically what SK and it's government been doing for years, we pay, they steal it for themselves, when run out, rile-up the people "the Japanese must pay!". Very predictable, as predictable as them asking more money sometimes later in the future.

Had Japan never murdered millions of people throughout Asia then Youn-Mee Hyang would never have received a single won-this is the salient point here...

Those who speak of past apologies always generalize because the details prove they are lying. There are no official Japanese apologies over wartime sex slavery because those could only come from the Diet. There are no approved apologies from or by the Diet. And constant denials of wartime sex slave facts from various politicians shows there is no consensus on the issue. Japanese textbooks do not reflect the facts and the ignorance of Japanese people with regard to this disgusting issue is just more salt in the wound put there by Japan.

And even more salt is put there when the Japanese government blocks attempts by individual former slaves to directly sue the companies that slaved them, even if its for back pay that is obviously due to them still.

The Japanese government is doing a bang up job making Japan look like a greedy barbaric freak despite the handful of decent Japanese who have put together compensation funds and are aware of the history and how horrific it is.

Let us hope PM Suga retains PM Abes super tough stance against Korean bullying, and does not try to improve relations.

There is a bit longer background story. Much unlike to the common view, PM Abe once took an conciliatory approach to resolving the comfort women issue with South Korea, leading to the 2015 Agreement alongside Japan's payment of 1 billion yen to establish a fund. Such "too soft" move was then very unpopular and under attack from his conservative supporters.

Despite his effort or compromise, the Moon government breached the Agreement, with the fund being embezzled and eventually dissolved (unilaterally as well, without Japan's consent). You see how much upset Abe became as he must have felt stabbed in the back, and it's no wonder that the Japanese government has since much hardened while SK has kept "moving the goalpost." Suga and Kishida (then Foreign Minister at the time of the 2015 pact) share such acrimonious feelings with Abe. Trust has been broken, and it's very unlikely that the Japan side would take another initiative. Don't expect such.

Kurisupsiu

Even when Youn-Mee Hyang a Korean is at fault you still blame Japan.

With that kind of logic you can blame Japan for all Korean problems, tomorrow you lose your job? It's Japan fault.

Your wife leaves you and gets a divorce it's Japan fault.

Looks like the great South Korean grift is finally being exposed for what it is

Tokyo says it has repeatedly apologised and maintains that all historical compensation issues between the two nations were settled under the 1965 treaty that re-established diplomatic relations between them.

OK, what part of this sentence do these activists not understand? And they can look it up for themselves, the 1965 treaty that reestablishEd relations between the two countries.

-Fighto!

Let us hope PM Suga retains PM Abes super tough stance against Korean bullying, and does not try to improve relations.

Well, let’s not go that far. I mean I don’t want them rewarded for doing these kind of shenanigans, but let’s not punish the whole nation just because of the actions of these activists. Remember, not everyone in South Korea agrees with these people.

To think their demand for an apology and compensation for "Sex Slavery" was the root cause of their unending anti-Japanese rage/hatred..... which is outrageous.

Even more hideous is the bashing their millennials inflicted upon a US-born-Filipinx whose Tik-Tok post revealed a tattoo of the "Rising Sun (in red ink)" hidden in her arm.... to which the poster apologized and promised to remove the dreaded tattoo. It turned out the tattoo was in honor of a Japanese friend. Nonetheless... S.Korean nasty posts piled on ....even disparaging the entire country (PI)... all because the Tik-Tok poster, a millennial herself.... knew nothing about history.

It was repulsive to see how the their (SK) comfort-and-beauty-oriented-millennials exhibit the hatred on others ..... who does not hate Japan with the same intensity that they do. Their written History as well as their elders.... sure knows how to teach and spread the hatred to their succeeding generations.

BTW...there are other countries in Asia that had the same wartime experience, and now all is well that ends well. The current generation had nothing to do with the events in the past.

Time to grow up.....just saying.

Media reports have alleged Youn embezzled funds to buy apartments and to pay for her daughters' tuition in the United States.

With only $85,000 ?

For certain South Korean politicians anger at the conduct of the Japanese during their colonization of Korea and especially the matter of comfort women is a rich vein to mine, a veritable gold mine for fundraising. No South Korean would ever dare point out that South Korea accepted a Y1 billion Yen (about $8.3 million USD) payment in 2015 to finally and irreversibly settle the matter of 'comfort women". To do so would be political, social and perhaps lead to actual suicide or their murder. It is a point of view that simply cannot be spoken in South Korea.

At least afford Youn Mee-hyang, jurisprudence, not a media lynching.

Prosecutors are briefing the media.

Prejudicial, contradictory to any possibility of a future fair trial.

Um, it would be more effective to have your signs in Japanese and not English or Korean. Just sayin'.

Activism has become a business, and no where more so than with the Comfort Women issue.

Whenever someone is making a living by running an activist organisation, you can bet the issue will never go away.

Why?

If the issue is finally resolved/settled . . . . .the money dries up.

Actions not words are needed if Japan is to convince Koreans.

Exactly this!

Corruption is also ride in Japanese ministries. The corrupt actions of some individuals is independent to the wartime atrocities, and obvious lack of atonement shown by Japanese leaders ever since.

“Every great cause begins as a movement, becomes a business, and eventually degenerates into a racket.” -Eric Hoffer

Case in point! Imagine how many other 'anti-Japan' Korean embezzlements got away with it! Nope Nope, dont give any financial aid to Korea.

Sad that one woman's corrupt actions have tarnished this group's image.

All that hatred, all that narcissism, all that racism

All that energy and money spent to promote a false narrative.

Its a shame that this movement was used as political tool for corrupt SK elites.

I would love to see this movement used as a worldwide call in general for women's rights, anti war violence, and human trafficking.

There would of been more participation and the outcome would be better.

I guess hating Japan is more lucrative, oh well maybe next time,

But whenever you see a statue of a comfort woman remember the hypocrisy, remember that its a korean comfort woman, not a philipino, dutch, japanese, russian, thai, chinese, etc.

The SK gov has no shame.

about time the protesters bury the past and look for future. living in the past not a healthy sign.

@James Stowe

Please state your source!

Japan was still rebuilding from the devastation the fire bombings cause and until April 1952 under USA occupation.

Japan did not manufacturer weapons as is could barely produce the basics needed to feed the population,

Japan was only used as a staging ground, a safe port for weapons being built and shipped from the USA, a place for UN soldiers to come for R&R.

So unless you have actual facts and a reliable source, this is just more anti Japanese rumours.

Money collecting poised as activism? With them always bringing up the past?

Not only Japan has this plague. Even America has this.

Some three-letter acronym comes to my mind.

@Vanessa Carlisle

Here's a list of Japan's apologies for the war and all related issues, including that of the "comfort women." It's a long list. Those apologizing include the emperor many times and prime ministers and cabinet heads multiple times as well.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_war_apology_statements_issued_by_Japan

If you aren't interested in reading it, maybe you're not interested in the truth.

I would love to see this movement used as a worldwide call in general for women's rights, anti war violence, and human trafficking.

Perhaps if Japanese leaders atoned, the movement would continue. Germany is a great example. The world loves Germany. Japan has been dependent on the US ever since the war...

Those apologizing include the emperor many times and prime ministers and cabinet heads multiple times as well.

Then why is Japan's involvement in the war always from a victim's perspective in text books, news etc?

Now I'd love to see them coming back with the ol begging pan and waving these victims in everyones faces! I Knew this was the real reason for begging for more and more money every few years or so. I hope this puts a STRICT end to Korea demanding more money over and over again EVEN THOUGH a treaty was signed in 1965 (I think) PLUS large amounts of monies that were given to quell the past but was never enough!

@sourpuss.

Read the "Controversy" section of the page you posted.

If you aren't able to understand why people say Japan hasn't apologised, maybe you're not interested in thinking.

And down voting is not a proper response.

I agreed with you until that part.

Seems this issue bears resemblance to an ongoing issue in another country.

and so here ends all of this scam ! The whole issue of paying anymore reparartions to S K or any other group for something that has already been handled and agreed to over and over and over and stolen and lied about is now finished, The End, Finito ! NO MORE !

As some one said the has been many agreements and many payments made to settle things only years later for them to turn around and want more, It is now all Over, absolutely and completely. They been stealing it all everytime.

Not a good look for the Korean side...

At the end of the day, these things happen alot, and money really shouldn't be the biggest concern but none the less is always number 1.

It is encouraging that the JPtoday uses the term "sex slave", considering the lamentable status of press freedom in Japan.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-japan-politics-newsroom-insight/fear-and-favor-chill-newsroom-at-storied-japanese-paper-idUSKCN1PI36V?il=0

BTW, the indictment does not necessarily mean the defendant is guilty. She should be assumed to be innocent until the verdict by the court is made. Let's wait before spewing out all irresponsible claims.

Perhaps if Japanese leaders atoned, the movement would continue. Germany is a great example. The world loves Germany. Japan has been dependent on the US ever since the war...

That's why nobody takes CW movement seriously because of logic like yours. Trying to shame people and spread hatred is why its failing. This just puts the nail in the coffin.

Example: company A is now under the management of a group that took control in a hostile takeover.

Company A signs a deal and gets full payment from Company B and the contract is considered done and all sides have met their obligations.

A few years go by and the original owners of company A regain control of it.

After doing some checking they realise that the previous management took payment and made the agreement with company B but used the payment for their own gains never passing on the money to the shareholders.

Now is company B responsible to make a new contract and pay again, or is it Company A responsibility to collect from the group that was managing company A at the time?

Well Company A I'd South Korea.

Company B is Japan

And the management that made the deal was basically South Korea's military.

So if South Korea doesn't like the reparation deal then they should collect what they want from their own military.

The fact the South Koreans did not pay out to their people what they were supposed to is not Japan's problem.

I this the phrase Comfort woman is attentive and respectful.

It would also be helpful to actually pose the meaning to the pensioners themselves.

Not Surprised at all, I have always felt that someone was driving this and making money off it too. It would't surprise me either if the real victims never received a dime.

The photo shows just how brainwashed the young people in South Korea are. Someone should sit her down and explain that Japan has apologized, the latest being an apology from PM Abe in accordance with the 2015 Agreement which SK ripped up. And the money Japan paid has still not been given to the surviving comfort women or returned to Japan.

AgentXSep. 15  12:29 pm JST

I would love to see this movement used as a worldwide call in general for women's rights, anti war violence, and human trafficking.

Perhaps if Japanese leaders atoned, the movement would continue. Germany is a great example. The world loves Germany. Japan has been dependent on the US ever since the war...

Japan has apologized countless times all on record. The nation has atoned, J-Haters use the individual comments of J-politicians to claim that the country has not atoned. Germany is not surrounded by nations that use anti-JP sentiment as a political tool. If you exclude China and Koreas, all of Asia including India and Australia New Zealand adore Japan. And these ae nations that Imperial Japan invaded or fought in WWII.

Not Surprised at all, I have always felt that someone was driving this and making money off it too. It would't surprise me either if the real victims never received a dime.

How its suppose to work is that the government takes care and compensates their own people SK does not take care of its own people. This can also be seen by the mass migration of college graduates moving to Japan because they cant any jobs or support.

Here's a list of Japan's apologies for the war and all related issues, including that of the "comfort women." It's a long list.

@sourpuss As I already said no details are provided by the right wing/ war loving side of this because you know none of those watered down "statements of remorse" are from the Diet and therefore, not official apologies, on top of which, the behavior of Japanese politicians shows clearly that beyond a few decent individuals, the majority of Japanese politicians feel zero remorse.

Your list is only there to dodge and obfuscate because you cannot provide a single example of an official Japanese apology from or approved by the Diet as I clearly indicated you could not.

So Japan dragged its feet all this time and now, decades after the rape and slavery, we get some embezzlement from a small timer rather than the corrupt South Korean government for once. This plays for Japan how exactly? Cause South Koreans are people too and one is bound to break and get greedy when the few remaining victims are so near to death?

Japan never should have handed victims money to non-victims in the S.K. government you know. Its like giving your rent to your landlord's crackhead uncle and then being all shocked your landlord never got it.

Don't worry. They'll still find some way of blaming Japan.

Japan never should have handed victims money to non-victims in the S.K. government you know

No I don't know. It was a deal negotiated between the two governments. The Japanese paid the South Korean government the amount of the settlement. Do you expect Japanese officials to operate in South Korea to disburse the money? And why would the South Korean government even allow this inside their territory. There has to be some expectations of probity on the part of the South Koreans. Imagine the uproar if the Japanese had told the South Koreans something to the effect of "we want to disburse the money directly so it isn't embezzled or otherwise misused". What an insult to the South Koreans. This one is entirely on South Korea. Japan met its obligations under the settlement.