Joo Ok-soon, head of the Republic of Korea Mothers' Brigade, at a Gwanghwamun rally.

Rallies by the Republic of Korea Mothers' Brigade are always filled with excitement and passion.

For 23 years, Joo Ok-soon, head of the Republic of Korea Mothers' Brigade, has consistently led street protests, representing the interests of the patriotic conservative camp. Even on the 15th, when the temperature dropped significantly, Joo Ok-soon was present at Gwanghwamun Square.

The Mothers' Brigade holds rallies three days a week: △Mondays (Gwanghwamun, Seoul) △Tuesdays (Seoul National University of Education Station, Seoul) △Wednesdays (Yangju, Gyeonggi Province).

The rally in Yangju takes place in front of the office of Justice Minister Chung Sung-ho (allegations of ordering the abandonment of a 740 billion won appeal), who also serves as a member of the National Assembly. This protest is to express discontent with Minister Chung regarding the prosecution's decision to drop the appeal in the Daejang-dong case.

Started during the Roh Moo-hyun administration, now in its 23rd year

Regarding her 23 years of dedication to a cause that few would dare to undertake, Joo Ok-soon stated, "I started attending rallies criticizing the policy failures and North Korea policy of the Roh Moo-hyun administration (2003-2008), and it led me to where I am today." She added, "I never thought I would do it for this long. I've participated in 8,000 rallies over 23 years. I'm approaching 10,000."

The scene of a rally in Gwanghwamun.

When asked about the most memorable event during her 23 years of protesting, Joo recalled her 16-year struggle against the Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance for the Issues of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan (formerly the Korean Council for the Women Drafted for Japanese Military Slavery by Japan, now the Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance for the Issues of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan), led by Yoon Mi-hyang.

"We waged a long protest to dismantle the Statue of Peace, opposing the theory of forced mobilization of comfort women. When the Park Geun-hye administration reached a final agreement with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's government on the comfort women issue in 2015, the left-wing groups went all out. I also fought with all my might. Many Japanese journalists covered the story. One article garnered over 3 million views, creating a significant stir in Japan."

At the time, Prime Minister Abe had agreed in a phone call with President Park to contribute 1 billion yen (approximately 10 billion won) as a gesture of apology and repentance to establish the 'Reconciliation and Healing Foundation' and provide support for the victims. However, the Moon Jae-in administration unilaterally abrogated the agreement reached by the two countries.

Overcoming surveillance and eavesdropping by the Moon Jae-in administration

Joo Ok-soon took to Gwanghwamun Square to urge President Moon Jae-in to apologize to Japanese society.

Joo Ok-soon, head of the Republic of Korea Mothers' Brigade, exclaims, "Six months of the Lee Jae-myung administration, and all normal systems have collapsed."

She also told reporters, "When a nation breaks an agreement made between its leaders, it's not just a political issue; it harms the economy of the Republic of Korea. I will also apologize to Japan. My father was conscripted during the Japanese colonial period. My family is also a victim, but the past is the past. We must remember the past as history and move forward."

She continued, "I also have a daughter. If you put yourselves in my shoes, for how long will you point fingers at the comfort women grandmothers, calling them sex slaves? We need to help them forget the nightmares and make a fresh start. Let's stop dwelling on what happened 100 years ago. If the ROK-US-Japan alliance breaks, it's all over."

At the same time, she reportedly challenged reporters, "If you hate Japan so much, why are your cameras Sony?"

"It's a horrifying thought. I was subjected to surveillance by the Moon Jae-in government for 2 years and 8 months. They even investigated my in-laws' relatives. When Moon Jae-in was under special investigation for Park Geun-hye, I was summoned by the prosecution and interrogated for over 16 hours. Did I back down because of that? I fought even harder after the special investigation."

Protested in mourning attire in front of the Constitutional Court to dissolve the Unified Progressive Party

She also cited the dissolution of the Unified Progressive Party (UPP) as another achievement. The UPP, spearheaded by figures like Lee Seok-ki during the Park Geun-hye administration, engaged in conspiracy to incite rebellion, discussing the destruction of national facilities during emergencies.

Lee Geon-hee (left), a youth speaker at the Gwanghwamun rally. A proud youth raised by the Mothers' Brigade.

Ultimately, the Constitutional Court ruled for the dissolution of the UPP on December 19, 2014. This was the first dissolution of a political party in the history of the Republic of Korea. At the time, Joo Ok-soon wore mourning attire and went to the Constitutional Court every day, shouting, "Dissolve the UPP!"

Furthermore, on the day former Prime Minister Han Myung-sook was released after serving a two-year sentence for receiving 900 million won in illegal political funds, the Mothers' Brigade drove to Uijeongbu Correctional Facility and held a protest rally.

Due to this series of events, some people associate Joo Ok-soon with being an extreme protester, a pro-Japanese conservative, and a hardline right-winger. She seemed to have some grievances about public perception.

"I'm fine with being called far-right, pro-Japanese, or a protester. I know the Democratic Party systematically obstructs the Mothers' Brigade, and some conservatives distance themselves, calling us extreme. But I don't care. I overcome these challenges with the power of faith and the support of my comrades. Above all, we have the youth behind us. How can we be discouraged when they believe in and follow us?"

Assaulted for urging ROK-Japan normalization

Her father was forcibly conscripted to Japan in 1943 and returned home with a severely weakened body. As a child, her father was deeply anti-Japanese, becoming very angry if his children spoke Japanese.

"Looking at my personal history, I could never be a pro-Japanese sympathizer. I simply couldn't stand by and watch the Moon Jae-in administration's policies towards Japan worsen our relationship."

She also led the Mothers' Brigade to the Japanese parliament and held a rally in front of Prime Minister Kishida's office after witnessing the Democratic Party wasting 1.6 trillion won of the national budget over three years (2022-2024) concerning the Fukushima treated water.

Joo Ok-soon stated, "The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) concluded that Japan's treated water from the Fukushima nuclear plant meets safety standards. Yet, in Korea, certain factions are creating a crisis by calling the treated water 'contaminated water,' politicizing it. We do not want the ROK-Japan relations to deteriorate."

She was also assaulted for this action. In August 2019, Baek Eun-jong, head of Seoul Voice, was arrested on the spot by police for assaulting Joo Ok-soon in front of the Japanese Embassy in Jongno-gu, Seoul. At the time, Baek attacked Joo, uttering words like "traitor."

Joo Ok-soon was diagnosed with injuries requiring three weeks of treatment. However, she stated that she overcame the pain through prayer.

"(God) gave me such words. If I can forgive Japan, which ruled us for 36 years, can't I forgive one fellow Korean, no matter how wicked they are? So, I dusted myself off and decided to forgive."

Despite the hardships, there was a sense of reward. Joo Ok-soon smiled, thinking that she might have contributed, even if just a little, to the restoration of "shuttle diplomacy" between President Yoon Suk-yeol and Prime Minister Kishida, meeting for the first time in 12 years.

Distributed flyers to inspire the youth

Joo Ok-soon considers paving the way for young people as the most rewarding aspect of her work. She speaks with great pride about the youth, saying, "They give such great speeches and sing so well." She believes their energy also gives her strength.

Park Won-il, a youth, energizes the crowd with song at a Mothers' Brigade rally in Gwanghwamun.

"When the Democratic Party seized power through fraudulent elections in the April general election last year, the Mothers' Brigade distributed one million flyers to 16 universities over a month and a half. And when President Yoon Suk-yeol was impeached, I gave up all my YouTube activities and attended the rally in Hannam-dong, where 400 of those young friends joined me."

Joo Ok-soon would lead shouts like "President Yoon Suk-yeol, stay strong," "Martial law was justified," "Yoon Again," and "The incitement of rebellion is a lie," while the youth would follow, waving placards.

Around this time, with the emergence of 'Liberty University,' there was a significant boom in the 20s and 30s youth movement. Many of the young people who were with the Mothers' Brigade also moved to organizations like Liberty University. However, some still remain and lead the Mothers' Brigade rallies.

Led rallies by selling her house

She also proudly points to the fact that despite thorough investigations for 2 years and 8 months during the Moon Jae-in administration, nothing was found.

Joo Ok-soon stated, "Now people know that the Mothers' Brigade is clean and honest. Even the left-wing groups acknowledge that, greeting me with 'Director!' when we meet," she said, shrugging her shoulders.

In any organization, if vested interests are involved, conflict arises. The fact that the Mothers' Brigade has remained so united for so long suggests her character.

When asked about how she funds these activities, she replied, "Honestly, the donations are not enough. I am running these movements by selling my house. I do it because I believe it's a worthwhile cause. If things continue like this, an uprising like '1987' will occur. This is more reckless than a military dictatorship. It's worse than any dictator and more vicious than the Yushin era. I will continue my activism until this regime collapses."

Finally, Joo Ok-soon raised her voice, urging mothers to awaken.

"Mothers of the Republic of Korea must awaken. Women must awaken. To create a world where our children are happy, we women must awaken."

By Lim Yo-hee, Reporter