[Joint Statement] The prevention of a forced conscription statue in Geoje Island should be used as an opportunity to eradicate pro-North Korean forces.

Yesterday (August 15), a statue of a conscripted worker of the Geoje forced Conscription Satue Promotion Committee, including the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, was "stopped" just before its installation.

Pan-citizens' organizations against the installation of the Geoje forced conscription promotion Commitee, such as the Korea-Japan Conflict Breakup Solidarity (co-representatives: Kim Ki-soo and Choi Deok-hyo), prevented the installation of the Statue through direct action in the waterside park of Jangseungpo Port in Geoje.

The Pan Citizen's Organizations were successful in the prevention of establishing Geoje's conscription statue. This was the first faiure of the promotion Committee, led by the two major labor unions and the Democratic Party .

This success has many meanings:

First, the establishment of conscription statues by the promotion committee, which was installed without permission in Seoul (Yongsan Station Plaza) and Daejeon (Boramae Park), is due to habitual actions of the political community that uses the anti-Japanese sentiment. The direct action of pan-citizen organizations directly oppose their opportunism in the political world.

Second, even if the conscription statue was installed illegally, the local government's public power was nominal. This is due to the influence of certain unions and the inactions of public officials. The direct actions of pan-citizen organizations oppose the incompetence of public power.

Third, in 2018, the chairman of the Central Committee of the North Korean Federation of Korean Occupations (Jikgun) and the two major trade unions, paid tribute to the statue installed at Yongsan Station Square. The direct actions of pan-citizen organizations, blocked intervention by North Korea and pro-North Korean forces in setting up anti-Japanese conscription statue.

Fourth, pan-citizens' organizations were able to meet with Geoje citizens, through the action of the Geoje conscription statue opposition struggle, and share the historical facts surrounding the Japanese history. Now, Geoje citizens will stand as subjects of free citizens who will no longer be deceived by anti-Japanese propaganda.

Fifth, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (Geoje Branch) reportedly said that "the unveiling ceremony has been postponed" the establishment of the conscription statue, and that it is taking administrative procedures for that reason.

However, this is nothing more than a lame excuse made by the promotion committee, including the KCTU, which has been constantly illegally installing the statues in various places because it has been continually opposed by pan-citizen organizations.

Pan-citizens' groups have informed Geoje citizens that the installation of the statue is "only a plot of history distortion and anti-Japanese propaganda," and urged them not to install the statue through various propaganda campaigns such as rallies in front of Geoje City Hall.

Nevertheless, the promotion committee, including the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, will attempt to set up the statue as a tool of anti-Japanese and anti-U.S propaganda. They took a legal position for a while by calling for "administrative procedures" because they judged that the situation has become disadvantageous due to the joint activities of pan-citizen groups and local residents.

On the other hand , the Yoon Suk Yeol government is trying to strengthen security cooperation between South Korea, the U.S., and Japan. There are still a wide range of forces seeking national destruction and government overthrow.

Therefore, the government and local governments should remove the existing illegal conscription statue and block new installation attempts in advance.

We urge the government should look at the Geoje conscription statue installation prevention process as an opportunity to eradicate pro-North Korean forces.

2023.8.16.

[Participating organizations]

National Love Association.

Future Hope Parents' Association.

Korea Modern and Contemporary Society Research Association.

Gyeongnam Branch of the National Action Coalition for Personality Education.

Free Korea National Defense Group.

and Korea-Japan Conflict Breakup Solidarity