Provinces at odds over sex slavery statue
By Kim Bo-eun
The Gyeonggi Province Council's plan to set up a statue symbolizing wartime sex slaves for Japan on the Dokdo islets is stirring a rift between two provincial governments.
The plan, proposed by the provincial council on Jan. 5, caused a row after it began fundraising for the monument Monday.
Besides the Japanese government's usual and politically-motivated protests, North Gyeongsang Province, to which the easternmost islets belong, has expressed concern over the plan.
"We see it unnecessary to link the two issues of Dokdo and comfort women," said provincial council member Nam Jin-bok, heading a subcommittee on Dokdo. "The installment of the statue will not help protect the territory, but only fuel political and diplomatic controversy."
Nam said it would be difficult to set up any sort of structure on the island because it is designated as a natural monument.
Meanwhile, the Gyeonggi council, which has been leading movements related to Dokdo and comfort women statues, is saying more aggressive measures are necessary to protect sovereignty over the islets and for Japan to acknowledge its legal responsibility for its wartime atrocities.
"Up until now, Korea has taken a passive stance on these issues and this has not helped settle anything," said council member Min Kyoung-sun. "We need to take bolder measures," he said.
Min said there will be no legal problem in installing the statue on the island.
Jo Sung-lae, an official at the Cultural Heritage Administration said, "No such structures have been set up on the island so far, but it is not impossible."
When an entity submits plans according to administrative procedures, the government agency reviews the plan and decides whether to approve it.
"The plan could get approved, depending on whether it affects the natural monument," Jo said.
The Gyeonggi council aims to set up the statue by Dec. 14. The erection of one statue is estimated to cost 35 million won ($29,700), and the council aims to raise 70 million won this year for the Dokdo statue and another one which it will place on the provincial council grounds.
A total of 60 local governments here have either installed or plan to set up comfort woman statues in their districts, as a means to protest the deal reached between Korea and Japan on the issue of sex slaves in December 2015, in which the latter did not acknowledge legal responsibility.
The council is backing the plan amid strained diplomatic relations between Korea and Japan following a row over another statue outside the Japanese consulate in Busan. In December, the city government removed the statue installed by civic activists, but returned it due to a fierce backlash from the public. In protest, Japan recalled its ambassador to Seoul and consul general in Busan.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has maintained a cautious stance toward the sex slave issue — spokesman Cho June-hyuck told reporters Thursday: "It is not desirable to link the issues of sex slaves and Dokdo."
There are mixed opinions on the issue, though many are defending a cautious approach.
"Although I do not see any problem with setting up monuments such as the comfort woman statues on our territory, considering the method, timing and location, the plan does not seem appropriate," said Yang Kee-ho, a professor of Japanese Studies at Sungkonghoe University. "Also, taking into account that the current administration is lacking leadership, it could be wiser not to exacerbate the sex slave issue."
By Kim Bo-eun
The Gyeonggi Province Council's plan to set up a statue symbolizing wartime sex slaves for Japan on the Dokdo islets is stirring a rift between two provincial governments.
The plan, proposed by the provincial council on Jan. 5, caused a row after it began fundraising for the monument Monday.
Besides the Japanese government's usual and politically-motivated protests, North Gyeongsang Province, to which the easternmost islets belong, has expressed concern over the plan.
"We see it unnecessary to link the two issues of Dokdo and comfort women," said provincial council member Nam Jin-bok, heading a subcommittee on Dokdo. "The installment of the statue will not help protect the territory, but only fuel political and diplomatic controversy."
Nam said it would be difficult to set up any sort of structure on the island because it is designated as a natural monument.
Meanwhile, the Gyeonggi council, which has been leading movements related to Dokdo and comfort women statues, is saying more aggressive measures are necessary to protect sovereignty over the islets and for Japan to acknowledge its legal responsibility for its wartime atrocities.
"Up until now, Korea has taken a passive stance on these issues and this has not helped settle anything," said council member Min Kyoung-sun. "We need to take bolder measures," he said.
Min said there will be no legal problem in installing the statue on the island.
Jo Sung-lae, an official at the Cultural Heritage Administration said, "No such structures have been set up on the island so far, but it is not impossible."
When an entity submits plans according to administrative procedures, the government agency reviews the plan and decides whether to approve it.
"The plan could get approved, depending on whether it affects the natural monument," Jo said.
The Gyeonggi council aims to set up the statue by Dec. 14. The erection of one statue is estimated to cost 35 million won ($29,700), and the council aims to raise 70 million won this year for the Dokdo statue and another one which it will place on the provincial council grounds.
A total of 60 local governments here have either installed or plan to set up comfort woman statues in their districts, as a means to protest the deal reached between Korea and Japan on the issue of sex slaves in December 2015, in which the latter did not acknowledge legal responsibility.
The council is backing the plan amid strained diplomatic relations between Korea and Japan following a row over another statue outside the Japanese consulate in Busan. In December, the city government removed the statue installed by civic activists, but returned it due to a fierce backlash from the public. In protest, Japan recalled its ambassador to Seoul and consul general in Busan.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has maintained a cautious stance toward the sex slave issue — spokesman Cho June-hyuck told reporters Thursday: "It is not desirable to link the issues of sex slaves and Dokdo."
There are mixed opinions on the issue, though many are defending a cautious approach.
"Although I do not see any problem with setting up monuments such as the comfort woman statues on our territory, considering the method, timing and location, the plan does not seem appropriate," said Yang Kee-ho, a professor of Japanese Studies at Sungkonghoe University. "Also, taking into account that the current administration is lacking leadership, it could be wiser not to exacerbate the sex slave issue."
