Korean media: Two South Korean groups clashed for nearly 4 hours near the "comfort women" girl statue
[Global Times Special Correspondent in South Korea Zhang Jing Global Times Special Correspondent Han Wen] Yonhap News Agency reported on the 12th that members of South Korean conservative groups and anti-Japanese groups were near the statue of the "comfort women" girl in front of the former site of the Japanese Embassy in Seoul on the evening of the 11th. There was a conflict for nearly 4 hours.
According to the report, the conservative group "New Freedom Alliance" held a rally near the statue of the girl at 10 o'clock that night, demanding the dissolution of the "Comfort Women" victim assistance group "United for Justice and Memory".
During this period, members of the group had physical conflicts with members of the anti-Japanese group "Anti-Japanese Action" that guarded the girl's statue.
Kim Sang-jin, the representative of the "New Freedom Alliance", tried to approach the statue of the girl, but the "Anti-Japanese Action" side stopped it, and the two sides started a long confrontation.
Although the police set up a cordon between the two groups to prevent physical confrontation, members of both parties turned up the volume of their speakers to start a "verbal conflict."
As the standoff continued, various video bloggers who were informed of the news also rushed to the scene, and some nearby residents also took to the streets.
In the end, the confrontation between the two sides ended at 2:10 am on the 12th.
The "Anti-Japanese Action" side called the "New Freedom Alliance" a "pro-Japanese extreme right" and criticized their terrorist act of removing the girl's statue.
South Korea's "EDAILY" website reported on the 12th that this is not the first time the two sides have clashed in front of the "comfort women" girl statue. Conservative groups such as the "New Freedom Alliance" have continued to demonstrate near the girl statue since 2020. Various harassment activities were carried out at the "Wednesday Rally" held by organizations such as "Justice and Memory United" to address the issue of "comfort women" in the Japanese army.
Previously, "United for Justice and Memory" has repeatedly filed complaints with the Korea Human Rights Commission for abuse and personal attacks by conservative groups around the "Wednesday rally".
South Korean netizens left messages under the reports of MBC TV and other media: "What conservative forces are there in South Korea? They are all ultra-right traitorous groups." "Japan has refused to apologize and reflect on the rape and murder of Koreans. These people are pro-Japan elements, not conservative at all. power!"
For a long time, the "comfort women" issue has been an unsolved case between South Korea and Japan, and now it has become a topic of disputes provoked by pro-Japanese groups in South Korea.
On January 8 this year, the "Wednesday Rally" celebrated its 30th anniversary.
On the same day, a conservative group that denied the existence of Japanese "comfort women" held a rally near the statue of the girl.
August 14 this year is also the 10th anniversary of the victims of the "comfort women" in the Japanese army. However, the ruling National Power Party of South Korea said that individuals or groups should be prevented from taking advantage of the suffering of "comfort women" victims for personal gain or political distortion. The opposition Common Democratic Party criticized that, whether it was 31 years ago or now, the Japanese government's official apology and compensation are urgent for victims, but after the Yin Xiyue government came to power, South Korean society's remarks about "comfort women" were divided. The situation has intensified.