25 years ago, the vicious truth was revealed. Kim-Hak Sun, a Korean comfort woman, one of the comfort women, became the first to speak out publicly about sexual abuse at the hands of the Japanese. After the Japanese colonization of Korea, the negative tension was exacerbated the situation when Japan refused to apologize for their mistakes to all women who suffered mentally and physically during the occupation. For several years, the request for the Japanese to apologize was met with either silence or denial.

           According to testimonies of some of the former comfort women, they were either abducted or got lured to work in a job for money. However, their final destination was a shabby brothel made by the Japanese imperial army. Every day and night, the girls were constantly raped and suffered in this confined place full of inhumane soldiers. To console their wounded spirits from the traumatic experience, the comfort women implored Japan for a sincere apology and an indemnification. To advocate for their stance and help this issue receive more attention, a myriad of Koreans contributed to their protest and made a movie based on the true story of comfort women, Spirit’s Homecoming.      

           For better or for worse, Japan and Korea settled this issue by Japan agreeing to pay 1bn yen to fund all the victims. There seems to be a settlement, but was this what the comfort women were asking for? Before moving in further, have a look at the other details that Japan and South Korea made on this issue:

-1bn yen to fund the comfort women

-Apology by Japan’s prime minister and the acceptance of “deep responsibility”

-If Japan fulfills every requirement, Korea will consider resolving this problem ”finally and irreversibly”.

-South Korea will remove statues symbolizing comfort women, which are placed outside the Japanese embassy in Seoul.

Both Korea and Japan will stop criticizing each other about this issue in the international community.

(http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-35188135)

           In spite of the agreement made, many questions were raised whether these agreements were actually for the benefit of comfort women or merely just an agreement to build diplomacy with Japan. Koreans did not simply want an apology made with money, but an apology from Japan spoken from their heart with sincerity. The deal only added insult to injury. The 88-year old, Lee Yong-soo, told the BBC: "I wonder whether the talks took place with the victims really in mind. We're not after the money. If the Japanese committed their sins, they should offer direct official government compensation." In addition to her claim, 88 year-old Yoo Hee-nam said: "If I look back, we've lived a life deprived of our basic rights as human beings. So I can't be fully satisfied.” The amount of money or compensation was not the problem. The fact that the governments were trying to solve a life with money was the real problem that all Koreans wanted to rectify. In addition, the removal of the statue of girl, which symbolizes the comfort women, was another big shock to everyone. The statue is more than just a symbol. It is part of Korean history, an irresistible memory, and representation of the lives of the thousands who suffered as a comfort women. If that is also taken away, this means that Korea will lose part of its memory and history again- just like the experience they went through during Japanese occupation.

          If you believe the comfort women issue is now solved completely due to the deal made between the two countries, then think again. It might have been resolved outwardly, but it will not be resolved not inwardly until all comfort women can happily agree with the deal. Now it’s time for their courageous voices and claims for justice to be heard. People die, time passes, the world changes, but the story of the comfort women will continue on until the very moment when they can finally hear justice and a genuine apology coming from Japan.

Haeji Kim
11th grade
Chadwick International School