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| Gil Won-oak, 86, one of 55 surviving ex-sex slaves for Japanese soldiers during World War II, removes a vest after the 1,116th Wednesday Protest outside the Japanese Embassy in Seoul. Buttons pinned to the vest bear supportive messages. Japan has ignored calls over the past decades to issue an apology for its sexual slavery. / Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul |
Japan staging cold-hearted waiting game for old victims to pass away
By Nam Hyun-woo, Yoon Sung-won
World War II sex slaves Kim Bok-dong and Gil Won-oak sat stoically in front of the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, Wednesday, braving wind and cold in their protest against Japan's refusal to acknowledge fully what it inflicted on them.
Younger protesters covered Kim, 88, and Gil, 86, with blankets and mufflers to protect them from the harsh weather as other members of the Korean Council for the Women Drafted for Military Sexual Slavery by Japan stood by.
Throughout this, the two victims' continued to stare unwaveringly at the embassy's tightly shut door — an all-too-familiar sight.
The weekly protest was the council's 1,116th in front of the embassy in central Seoul to condemn Japan's failure to apologize for its imposition of sexual slavery.
Protesters shouted: "Open up and apologize," but the large black gate opened only to allow embassy officials in black Lexus and Toyota cars in and out. The situation has remained the same for more than 22 years.
The embassy and the Japanese government continue to ignore the protests in the belief that the issue will fade away along with the elderly victims.
Initially, 237 victims came forward and were listed as surviving former sex slaves — euphemistically referred to as "comfort women" — but only 55 are alive today. One of them, Hwang Geum-ja, died last month.
Like the embassy door, Japan remains closed to the repeated requests from Korea to hold talks on the issue. Tokyo claims it was resolved in the 1965 Basic Treaty between the countries signed during the Park Chung-hee administration. Under the treaty, Japan offered to pay compensation for its colonial rule.
About 100 people, including civic group members, politicians and some foreigners joined the rally, calling for the Japanese government to take responsibility for the war crime.
The protesters also criticized Korea for showing little commitment to resolving the issue.
At the start of the protest, they shouted: "The (Korean) government must teach our children correct history." The protesters were referring to the recent controversy over a history textbook criticized for content suggesting that the sex slave issue had been resolved.
"Truth is truth," said a Japanese victim of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima who was at the protest. "In recent days, Japanese politicians have been saying things that worsened relations between Korea and Japan," said the protester, 72.
"However, everyone has to know the true history. But because the Japanese government is run by right-wing politicians, it doesn't repent, but I'd like to say I'm sorry," she added. She said she was lucky to attend the protest during her three-day visit to Seoul.
Rev. Kurt Esslinger from the U.S. said, "This is an experience worth taking as an example of cultivating peace and justice wherever women are victimized. The issue is a sad part of our history. This is not just the history of Japan, but also that of the U.S. and every country participating wars."
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