Foundation for Justice and Remembrance

The Foundation for Justice and Remembrance (Japanese: 日本軍性奴隷制問題解決のための正義記憶財団; Korean: 일본군성노예제문제해결을위한정의기억재단) was a South Korean civic foundation that operated from 2016 to 2018. It was established to pursue a resolution to the issue of Japanese military sexual slavery, commonly referred to as the 'comfort women' issue, and grew out of opposition to the December 28, 2015 agreement between Japan and South Korea on the comfort women question and the Reconciliation and Healing Foundation created under that agreement. The foundation was proposed by former comfort woman Kim Bok-dong, who put forward the idea of a civic foundation, and its establishment plan was announced on January 14, 2016, at the launch ceremony of the nationwide action group 'National Action for the Invalidation of the Korea-Japan Japanese Military "Comfort Women" Agreement and a Correct Resolution.' On June 9, 2016, the foundation was established with the Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance for the Issues of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan (挺対協) at its center. Its first board included Chairperson Ji Eun-hee, a former Minister of Gender Equality and Family; directors such as Yoon Mi-hyang, then standing representative of 挺対協; and advisors including former comfort women Kim Bok-dong, Gil Won-ok, Ahn Jeom-sun, Lee Ok-seon, Kang Il-chul, and Kim Kun-ja. On July 16, 2018, it was announced that the foundation would merge organizationally with 挺対協 and operate under the new name 'Justice and Remembrance Solidarity for the Resolution of the Japanese Military Sexual Slavery Issue' (正義記憶連帯). However, 挺対協 continued to exist as a separate legal entity after the merger. Because the two organizations had different supervising government ministries — 挺対協 under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and 正義連 under the National Human Rights Commission of Korea — they separately received subsidies and support from the government and local authorities, leading to accusations of double-dipping. 挺対協 was dissolved in August 2020. In 2020, former comfort woman Lee Yong-soo, who had cooperated with the movement, accused 挺対協-affiliated organizations of exploiting the issue: she alleged that only 0.2–3% of donations and subsidies were passed on to former comfort women, that they were made to sign pledges not to oppose exploitation, that comfort women who did not support the organizations' activities were treated discriminatorily, and that comfort women support was a fundraising banner while most of the money collected was used for other purposes. Along with suspicions of pro-North Korea and South Korean leftist support, the Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office searched the organizations' premises. In February 2021, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family announced that it would transfer the comfort women support project it had commissioned to 正義連 to the affiliated Korea Women's Human Rights Promotion Institute. 正義連 also stated that it would henceforth operate without receiving subsidies or support funds from the state or local governments.

The Foundation for Justice and Remembrance was a South Korean civic foundation active from 2016 to 2018. It emerged from opposition to the December 28, 2015 agreement between Japan and South Korea on the comfort women issue and the Reconciliation and Healing Foundation established under that agreement. Former comfort woman Kim Bok-dong proposed the idea of a civic foundation, and on January 14, 2016, the establishment plan was announced at the launch ceremony of the nationwide action group 'National Action for the Invalidation of the Korea-Japan Japanese Military "Comfort Women" Agreement and a Correct Resolution.' On June 9, 2016, the foundation was established with the Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance for the Issues of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan (挺対協) at its center. Its first board included Chairperson Ji Eun-hee, a former Minister of Gender Equality and Family; directors such as Yoon Mi-hyang, then standing representative of 挺対協; and advisors including former comfort women Kim Bok-dong, Gil Won-ok, Ahn Jeom-sun, Lee Ok-seon, Kang Il-chul, and Kim Kun-ja. On July 16, 2018, it was announced that the foundation would merge organizationally with 挺対協 and operate under the new name 'Justice and Remembrance Solidarity for the Resolution of the Japanese Military Sexual Slavery Issue' (正義記憶連帯). However, 挺対協 continued to exist as a separate legal entity after the merger. Because the two organizations had different supervising government ministries — 挺対協 under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and 正義連 under the National Human Rights Commission of Korea — they separately received subsidies and support from the government and local authorities, leading to accusations of double-dipping. 挺対協 was dissolved in August 2020. In 2020, former comfort woman Lee Yong-soo, who had cooperated with the movement, accused 挺対協-affiliated organizations of exploiting the issue: she alleged that only 0.2–3% of donations and subsidies were passed on to former comfort women, that they were made to sign pledges not to oppose exploitation, that comfort women who did not support the organizations' activities were treated discriminatorily, and that comfort women support was a fundraising banner while most of the money collected was used for other purposes. Along with suspicions of pro-North Korea and South Korean leftist support, the Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office searched the organizations' premises. In February 2021, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family announced that it would transfer the comfort women support project it had commissioned to 正義連 to the affiliated Korea Women's Human Rights Promotion Institute. 正義連 also stated that it would henceforth operate without receiving subsidies or support funds from the state or local governments.

• Japan-South Korea agreement on the comfort women issue and the Reconciliation and Healing Foundation are rejected by the future founders.

• Establishment plan announced at the launch ceremony of the nationwide action group.

• Foundation established with the Korean Council (挺対協) at its center.

• Announcement of organizational merger with 挺対協 under the new name 'Justice and Remembrance Solidarity' (正義記憶連帯).

• 挺対協 dissolved.

• Lee Yong-soo's accusations and prosecutors' search.

• Ministry of Gender Equality and Family transfers support project from 正義連 to the Korea Women's Human Rights Promotion Institute.

Civic advocacy foundation for the resolution of the Japanese military sexual slavery issue

1. 1Foundation for Justice and Remembrance - Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2日本軍性奴隷制問題解決のための正義記憶財団 - Wikipedia (Japanese)ja.wikipedia.org