Moving On

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Discomfort In South Korea

Since January 8, 1992 protest has been held every Wednesday at noon in front of the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, South Korea. A demonstration aimed at receiving an official apology and recognition from the Japanese government for the war crimes of kidnapping women and using them as sex slaves for the Japanese Army. The women and supporters come with seven specific demands:

1. That the Japanese government admits the compulsory drafting of Korean women as Military Sexual Slavery by Japan.
2. That an official apology will be made for this.
3. That all the atrocities will be fully disclosed.
4. That a Memorial will be built for the victims.
5. That the survivors or their bereaved families will be compensated.
6. That the facts and truth about Military Sexual Slavery by Japan will be taught in Japanese history classes so that such inhumanities are not repeated.
7. Punish the war criminals!

The Comfort Women, as they were called, were taken by the hundred of thousands (estimated at 200,000 although the numbers are still debated today; majority of them being Korean) and used for "comfort" by soldiers during the Asia-Pacific War. At a young age some were taken off the streets and some tricked into thinking they were hired for work. They were forced into an unimaginable life of embarrassment and now have been demanding an apology for the past 19 years with no success.



I attended this past Wednesday on February 2, 2011 for the 955th protest in the streets of Seoul. A demonstration with about 30 people in attendance, most of whom were foreigners coming to show their support. It was filled with talks from supporters, hosts and one of the "comfort women" herself who they title as 할머니 (pronounced halmeoni; meaning grandmother; as they use these titles as respect for elders). Although the language barrier was there I still could imagine the story she was telling. However, some of 할머니 speech was translated by a Korean English speaker. She explained that 할머니 was saying that the reason she does these protest is because her "scar was too deep" and "she wants everyone to know and realize what happened to these women". And after all these years she keeps doing it every Wednesday because "she wants to be sure that these acts do not happen again and again to other women".



These protests are organized by the House Of Sharing along with Japanese students who study in Korea (they helped for this particular protest). The House Of Sharing is an organization that acts both as a museum and home to some of the survivors of sexual slavery. It is also the world's first museum dedicated to raising awareness on the issue of human rights for those forced into sexual slavery.

It has been a long road of struggling and pushing for justice with much dedication. With few survivors remaining and no recognition granted, these demonstrations have not been a complete failure. Not only has word traveled from concerned spectators to share the truths of inhumane crimes, but, the plan now from the House Of Sharing and supporters is to construct a monument where the protest have been held for so long. A set in stone reminder to the Japanese Embassy and country of their wrong doings. Also, along with the monument the street name where they have walked and stood tall will be changed to "Peace Road".