English Introduction

- resolution of the Japanese military sexual slavery issue, revealed by Kim Hak-soon’s courageous testimony on August 14, 1991.

- realization of the message of the victims to restore their dignity and human rights and to achieve a peaceful world.

- education regarding the history of the Japanese military sexual slavery to future generations.

- restoring victims’ dignity and human rights and remembering the Japanese military sexual slavery issue.

- prevention of wartime sexual violence and sexual violence in conflict.

- just resolution of the issue: includes acknowledgment of war crimes, formal/public apology, legal reparation, investigation of truth, education about the issue, and legal punishment of the perpetrators.

From the perspective of peace and women’s rights, We will take the lead in solving·remembering the Japanese military sexual slavery issue, violation of women’s rights, and sexual exploitation.

During the Shanghai Incident in 1932, rape by Japanese soldiers became increasingly frequent, leading to an extreme anti-Japanese sentiment in occupied regions. Also, Japanese soldiers started to get venereal infections, which interfered with the war's progress. As a result, the 'military comfort station' system was established, and women from colonized and occupied regions were drafted against their will. According to the reports on the victims registered with the Korean government, the age of victims ranged from 11 to 27. Most of them were drafted by abduction and job fraud.

The ‘military comfort stations’ differed in their establishment, management, and recruitment of the ‘comfort women’ based on the period, location, and whether the military or a commissioned private agent ran them. However, all of them were subject to complete protection, supervision, and restriction by the Japanese military. At each ‘comfort station,’ the hours of use depended on ranks, fees, medical checkups or STIs, and other sanitary precautions were displayed. During the peak time, 20 to 30 soldiers waited in line outside the door, according to the testimonies of the former Japanese soldiers.

For the safety of Japanese soldiers, ‘comfort women’ had to receive medical checkups for STIs regularly and were brutally raped even when they were having periods, pregnant, or sick. The women could not leave the ‘comfort stations’ of their own will, and even the most basic living and moving conditions were under restrictions. Records also refer to ‘comfort women’ as “gifts from the Emperor” and “sanitary public bathroom.”

After Japan was defeated in 1945, ‘comfort women’ were abandoned in the countries they were taken to, dead by bombings, or were killed by the Japanese military. Survivors struggled with finding a way back home or had to give up going back home. The wounds and trauma from beatings, torture, and sexual violence in the ‘comfort stations’ left the victims in pain, unable to give birth or have a family. Furthermore, they were kept silent due to psychological trauma, ignorance, and public discrimination.

Professor Youn Chung-ok presented the issue of Japanese military sexual slavery to the public during the Women and Sex Tourism Seminar in 1988. Afterward, feminist organizations cooperated in establishing the Korean Council for the Women Drafted for Military Sexual Slavery by Japan on November 16th, 1990. However, the Japanese government denied its involvement with the issue. On August 14th, 1991, Kim Hak-soon did the first press interview in Korea to make a public testimony that she was a survivor. Her courageous testimony gave hope to other survivors who had been silent to come out to the world.

Kim Hak-soon’s testimony became a critical turning point for the resolution of the issue of Japanese military sexual slavery in Korea and the international community. Survivors who were disconnected from neighbors and 83family and unable to speak of the fact that they were victimized started to connect with other women and citizens to reveal the crimes of the Japanese government. Survivors transformed into women’s rights and peace activists who demanded the restoration of their dignity and human rights and achieving a peaceful world where no more person is victimized.

Through the Wednesday Demonstration, the Korean Council Demands to the Government of Japan:

1. Admit the Japanese military sexual slavery system as a war crime.

2. Disclose official documents.

3. Deliver an official apology.

4. Pay reparations to the victims.

5. Punish those responsible.

6. Record the sexual slavery system in history textbooks.

7. Erect a memorial monument and build an official archive.

How to Participate

When?: Every Wednesday at 12 PM

Where?: Pyeonghwa-ro (In front of the former Japanese Embassy) 25, Yulgok-ro 2-gil, Jongro-gu, Seoul

Who?: Anyone or group is invited and encouraged to participate

※ If you want to participate in free-speech or other means to voice your opinion, please contact the Korean Council in advance via email at [email protected]

The Statue of Peace, often called ‘Sonyeosang’ in Korea, is a symbol of the victims of Japanese military sexual slavery and also a form of hope to stop all sexual violence in armed conflict which has been ongoing all around the world.

People wishing for human rights and peace voluntarily participate in building this monument not only at home but also all around the world so it could work as an open educational venue for peace.

The physical form of the Statue of Peace may vary depending on the region or the nature of construction, but it all means not to forget the issue of Japanese military sexual slavery, remember it together, and wish for human rights and peace.

The general form of the Statue of Peace built in front of the (former) Japanese Embassy is a girl sitting on a small chair staring silently at the Japanese Embassy, depicting a young girl who was abducted by the Japanese imperial military during World War II.

The bird on the girl’s left shoulder is a bridge between the underworld and this world, symbolizing victims who passed away before receiving apologies from the Japanese government. The girl’s hair that is torn away shows the pain of separation from family and home.

The girl’s clutched hands represent anger against the Japanese government that denies its responsibilities. The girls’ bare feet hanging in the air symbolize the sufferings victims had to go through after due to being abducted and forced to live as ‘comfort women’, with stigma from society and ignorance of the government.

The empty chair symbolizes solidarity from the past, present, and future. It represents the solidarity of people who remember and commemorate the victims. It also means a space of solidarity where people can recognize the lives of victims by sitting next to the girl and staring at the Japanese Embassy. It also serves as a space where people can participate in 28 years of movement for a just resolution of the Japanese military sexual slavery issue and dream of a peaceful world without war.

The shadow on the bottom represents the victims who have waited for long for justice and the history that will never be forgotten. The butterfly in the heart of the shadow represents the souls of victims who passed away, who suffered and dreamed of genuine emancipation.

The Small Sonyeosang Movement was suggested by Ehwa Girl's High School student circle 'Jumeockdoki' to commemorate the lives of Japanese military sexual slavery victims and to honor and act together to set justice for Japanese military sexual slavery victims. In July 2018, 239 schools symbolizing 239 reported Japanese military sexual slavery victims registered with the Korean government, finished to built The Small Sonyeosang in schools.

Account number: 069137-04-014198

Account holder: The Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance for the Issues of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan

Address: 12, World Cup buk-ro 11-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea Bank name: KOOKMIN BANK

Bank address: 26, Gukjegeumyung-ro 8-gil, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, Korea

SWIFT code: CZNBKRSEXXX

Paypal account : [email protected]

1. The Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance for the Issues of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan

Donations to the Korean Council will be used for various domestic and international programs including Wednesday Demonstration, War and Women’s Rights Museum, digital archives, and international campaigns at the United Nations or abroad.

2.Butterfly Fund

As the Japanese Military Sexual Slavery victims suffered from violence in war, there are countless women across the world who still suffer in conflicts.

On International Women’s Day on March 8th, 2012, the Japanese military sexual slavery victims Kim Bok-dong and Gil Won-ok promised to support women who still suffer from sexual violence in conflict with reparations they would receive from the Japanese government.

The Butterfly Fund supports victims of sexual violence in conflict in Vietnam, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and other places, following Halmonis’ messages. Butterfly Fund’s donations only used as Butterfly Fund.