Lew Seok-choon Scores Partial Win in Controversial Comfort Women Suit

On June 13, a South Korean court delivered a partial ruling against former Yonsei University professor Lew Seok-choon in a closely watched civil defamation case.

The lawsuit, filed six years ago by a local civic group, stems from Lew's 2019 lecture in which he challenged South Korea's entrenched narratives on the comfort women issue and criticized the Korean Council, the country's largest comfort women advocacy group.

In his lecture that sparked the suit, Lew claimed that comfort women during Korea's colonial era engaged in a type of prostitution half-willingly and half-heartedly due to their dire circumstances. Lew accused the Korean Council of coaching these women to testify that they were forcibly mobilized by the Japanese military.

The former professor also claimed that the organization's leaders were associated with the now-defunct United Progressive Party and maintained close ties with North Korea.

In October 2019, the Korean Council initiated legal action, alleging that Lew's statements were both false and defamatory.

The Court's Decision

On Friday, the Seoul Western District Court ruled partially in favor of the plaintiff, ordering Lew to pay 5 million won ($3,660 USD) in damages.

Initially seeking 100 million won ($73,000 USD), the Korean Council later reduced its claim to 25 million won ($18,300 USD).

Friday's ruling follows a related criminal case, in which Lew was acquitted of most charges earlier in February.

*Lew Seok-choon takes questions from the press in front of the courthouse on Wednesday, January 24. (©Lew Seok-choon)*

Speaking to JAPAN Forward after the verdict, Lew characterized the outcome as a qualified vindication. "The Korean Council started this case seeking unreasonable compensation," he said. "But even they ended up lowering their claim twice, and the court ultimately awarded only a fifth of the final amount they asked for."

"I think the court recognized the frivolousness of the case, awarding just a fraction of the sought compensation and ordering the plaintiff to cover most of the legal costs," he added.

The court ordered the plaintiff to pay four-fifths of the litigation fees, with the remaining fifth to be borne by Lew.

In a statement, the plaintiff responded to the ruling, saying: "We hope this decision serves as a warning to those who deny or distort historical truth. To safeguard the rights of victims and uphold historical truth, we can no longer tolerate those who rewrite the past."

Freedom vs. Advocacy

The Korean Council, now operating under a different name, has launched similar litigations and criminal complaints against individuals who have questioned its ties to North Korea or disputed mainstream narratives on the comfort women issue.

While these actions have often been unsuccessful, critics say they have contributed to a chilling effect on academic freedom and public discourse.

The group itself has faced growing scrutiny in recent years. Its former leader, Yoon Mee Hyang, was convicted in 2024 of embezzling donations intended for former comfort women, a scandal that significantly tarnished the organization's credibility.

When asked about a potential appeal, Lew said he will consult with his attorney before deciding on the next move.

Author: Kenji Yoshida