Seoul: A former wartime sexual slavery victim on Wednesday appealed to the South Korean government to demand an apology and compensation from the Japanese government over its military’s sexual enslavement of Korean women during World War II. Lee Yong-soo, the 97-year-old victim of the Japanese military’s sexual slavery, made the plea during the 1,720th weekly Wednesday rally held near the Japanese Embassy in Seoul to demand Tokyo’s formal apology to former sex slaves, euphemistically called “comfort women.”

According to Yonhap News Agency, Lee Yong-soo expressed her concerns, questioning the South Korean government’s actions regarding the issue. “As long as Japan has not apologized and provided compensation, shouldn’t our government take action and enforce it quickly? I’m almost 100 years old, but isn’t our government hoping all the grandmothers (former comfort women) will die?” Lee remarked, emphasizing the urgency of the matter.

Lee further stressed the importance of achieving “complete liberation” through acknowledgment and rectification of past grievances. Her emotional appeal was marked by a poignant moment as she spoke with a lump in her throat.

During the rally, participants voiced their criticism towards the Lee Jae Myung administration. Concerns were raised over the absence of a clear resolution to historical issues during his recent summit talks with outgoing Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in Busan. The lack of discussion on these sensitive matters has left many frustrated, seeking more concrete government action.