A memorial statue symbolizing victims of Japan’s wartime sexual slavery is seen near the former Japanese Embassy in Seoul, in this file photo taken Dec. 28, 2025. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Jan. 19 (Korea Bizwire) – Police on Monday searched the home of a far-right activist under investigation for defaming statues of a girl representing victims who were forced to Japan’s wartime brothels during World War II, a police official said.
Investigators carried out the search and seizure at the residence of Kim Byung-heon, who heads a far-right group, and faces charges of defamation of the deceased and violating the Assembly and Demonstration Act.
Kim’s group has recently stirred controversy for staging a campaign calling for dismantling the statues. The group is accused of staging unregistered rallies near statues symbolizing the former sex slaves in Seoul with a banner disparaging the victims.
Earlier this month, the head of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education filed a complaint against Kim to police, demanding he and his group’s members be punished.
Historians estimate that up to 200,000 women, mostly from Korea, were forced to work in front-line brothels for Japanese soldiers during the war. Korea was a Japanese colony from 1910-45.
(Yonhap)
