Yangsan: Police on Tuesday opened an investigation into a civic activist accused of insulting victims of Japan's wartime sexual slavery and damaging their memorial statues. The Yangsan Police Station in the southeastern province of South Gyeongsang has booked the activist, whose identity is withheld, on charges of defamation, violation of the law on assembly and demonstration, and property damage.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the activist has sparked controversy by campaigning across the country to dismantle girl statues symbolizing the former sex slaves, known as "comfort women." He is accused of posting on his social media account a photo of a school where such a statue is installed, accompanied by insulting comments. The comments included statements such as "Are you providing career guidance on prostitution by erecting a statue of a prostitute on school grounds?" and "It's a symbol of fraud."

The activist further aggravated the situation by posting a photo of himself holding a banner that reads "Stop the comfort women fraud!" in front of the Asahi Shimbun building in Japan. The police have stated that they began investigating the activist after receiving a complaint against him in September last year. Additionally, three individuals who participated in his activities are also under investigation.