By Kim Rahn
The frightening sight of a devastated Japan has brought great sorrow and compassion from Koreans here.
Although resentment remains in many older Koreans over Japan’s colonial rule here from 1910 to 1945, the disaster has made citizens here roll up their sleeves to give humanitarian aid to the devastated victims of the natural disaster in the neighboring country.
“My hearts are with the Japanese people. As human beings living together in this world, we are supposed to help each other,” 60-year-old housewife Cho Jin-hee said. “Who knows when we may have similar suffering someday? I also respect the Japanese people for keeping order and remaining calm in such a situation.”
Members of Hwalbindan, a right-wing patriotic group that used to stage anti-Japan campaigns over issues such as Japan’s claiming of the Dokdo Islets, also paid their condolences to the quake victims in front of the Japanese Embassy, Friday.
“The Japanese people are in shock after losing their foundations for life. Regardless of anti- or pro-Japan sentiments, Koreans need to help the victims of the neighboring country’s misfortune,” the group said in a statement.
Group leader Hong Jung-sik said Korea, a member of the G20, should share the pain of other countries. The group plans to hold a fundraising campaign soon.
A civic group supporting former “comfort women” also expressed regret. “In the past imperialistic war, ordinary Japanese people were also victims. From the past pain of history, we are well aware how dear life is. We all have the same life, we are brothers and sisters. We express our sorrow to the Japanese people and hope they can overcome the tragic event soon,” the group said in a statement Sunday.
The Korean Council for Women Drafted for Military Sexual Slavery by Japan said Monday that it will not hold its regular Wednesday rally this week but hold a memorial gathering instead.
“Rather than chanting slogans calling for the Japanese government’s apology and compensation, we’ll express regret by keeping silence,” a group official said.
Fundraising campaigns have been launched both online and offline.
Korea Food for the Hungry International, Good Neighbors and World Vision are preparing to dispatch relief workers and aid to Japan. They also started collecting funds for victims and the restoration of damaged facilities there.
Community Chest Korea will send $500,000 first and is stepping up efforts to collect more money. The South Korean Red Cross launched an online fundraising campaign, while the Salvation Army Korea Territory will install kettles at 20 spots in Seoul over the weekend.
Seoul, a sister city of Tokyo, is putting relief workers and supplies on standby and Gwangju, the sister city of the most harshly-hit Sendai, will participate in the move.
Internet users are also raising funds. A blogger who made a donation, nicknamed Bau, said, “Japan is close to us geographically but is not so close in terms of emotions. But it is also a country where people live, and I want to offer compassion.”
A tweeter nicknamed “dohuiji” said she would help the Japanese who stay here and are unable to return home. “I’ll share my house with Japanese women whose homes were destroyed from the quake, who can’t get a plane ticket, or who are running out of lodging fees. I live in Seoul and my house can admit up to two women.”