Consolation and Compensation

By Shashi Bhasin

The story of Pak Kum-joo in The Korea Times dated March 15, 2010 about ``comfort stations" run by the Japanese military during 1941 and 1945 is really shocking. I don't know if Pak Kum-joo is still alive and in what physical and mental condition she is in.

Maria Rosa Henson of the Philippines wrote her biography which is very similar to the story of Pak Kum-joo and many others. The Japanese torture of these ladies can never be forgotten for many years to come.

After about 65 years, these ladies must be in the 80 to 85 age group. At this stage of their life they may be in need of support especially concerning their healthcare. The offer of $20,000 in compensation by the Japanese government, in my view, is more humiliating than putting them in brothels in the first place. The offer of money means that they are still being treated as sex workers, even after so many years. Compensation with money, of course, is needed but at the same time it is an indication that the woman is being treated as a commodity. These ladies also need moral support by ignoring their past which was damaged by others. There is not enough compensation for pushing a woman to the so-called comfort zone offering comfort to the soldiers and at the same time discomfort to the suffering woman by virtually raping her.

The admittance by the Japanese authorities was a good step toward caring for these ladies. But no compensation is sufficient to heal the wounds of this kind of physical and mental torture. In fact supporting their children and grandchildren should also be considered with the condition of keeping their identity anonymous. They should not be put in an embarrassing situation.

History has it that the U.S. forces also committed the crime of raping local females in Vietnam. But there is no apology from the U.S. government or anybody involved in such a heinous crime. Maybe because the U.S. crime was committed by the soldiers without their government's official consent as was the case for Japanese soldiers is why the current circumstances are different.

Other countries and individuals responsible for such crimes should also come out in the open to help such innocent living victims who are at their final stages of a free life. If the end is good, the worst of the past can also be forgotten.

The writer is a marine engineer employed by Anglo Eastern Group, Hong Kong, and is now living in Busan. He has a master's degree in economics and can be reached at bhasinshashi@gmail.com.