As hard-line conservative groups under police investigation for allegedly insulting victims of the Japanese military's forced sexual slavery halted their rallies near the "Statue of Peace," the Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance (Jeonguiyeon) held its regular Wednesday demonstration directly in front of the statue for the first time in about four years and three months.
At 12 p.m. on the 11th, Jeonguiyeon held the 1,739th "regular Wednesday demonstration to resolve the issue of the Japanese military's sexual slavery" in front of the statue near the former Japanese Embassy in Jongno District, Seoul. Police, preparing for any contingency, continued to manage the scene while keeping the barricades around the statue in place.
Since Nov. 2021, Jeonguiyeon had been unable to secure the spot in front of the statue and moved its rallies to nearby locations such as in front of the Yonhap News Agency building or the road next to the National Tax Service. This was because hard-line conservative groups, including Jayu Yeondae and the National Action to Abolish the Comfort Women Act, had long preempted the area in front of the statue through priority rally filings.
On the day, Jeonguiyeon Chair Lee Na-young noted, "The spot in front of the statue has for years been effectively occupied by historical denial and remarks disparaging the victims," adding, "Civic solidarity made this return possible."
Meanwhile, Kim Byung-heon, head of the National Action to Abolish the Comfort Women Act, who has advocated for the removal of the statue, said on social media on the 7th that street protests would be suspended for the time being. Kim is under police investigation on suspicion of unfurling banners last year reading, "With a comfort woman statue on campus, are you guiding students toward prostitution as a career?" in front of the main gates of Seocho High School in Seocho District and Muhak Girls' High School in Seongdong District.