Seoul's education chief asks police to punish activists for defaming 'comfort women'

▲ An undated file photo of Jung Keun-sik, superintendent of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, provided by his office (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

education official-sexual slavery victims

Seoul's education chief asks police to punish activists for defaming 'comfort women'

SEOUL, Jan. 9 (Yonhap) -- Seoul's education chief on Friday filed a complaint against a far-right group for insulting victims of Japan's wartime sexual slavery and damaging their memorial statues.

Jung Keun-sik, superintendent of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, said the complaint was submitted to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, demanding Kim Byung-heon, head of the far-right group, and its members be punished on charges of defamation of the deceased, violation of the Child Welfare Act and distribution of obscene materials.

Kim's group has triggered controversy by staging a campaign across the country to dismantle girl statues symbolizing the former sex slaves, euphemistically called "comfort women."

He is accused of posting on his social media account a photo of a school where such a statue is installed, along with insulting comments, such as "Are you providing career guidance on prostitution by erecting a statue of a prostitute on school grounds?"

The Yangsan Police Station in the southeastern province of South Gyeongsang said earlier this week that it booked Kim on defamation and other charges.

Jung said in a statement that protests and posts insulting the comfort women are a serious matter that can damage the educational environment and cause serious emotional harm to young students. He also said he will take all legal action to ensure a swift and rigorous investigation, and appropriate punishment for those responsible.

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