"Kishida Requests German Chancellor to Remove Berlin Comfort Women Statue"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida reportedly requested German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to remove the 'Statue of Peace,' symbolizing the victims of Japanese military sexual slavery, installed in Berlin.

According to the Sankei Shimbun on the 11th, during a summit meeting with Chancellor Scholz, who visited Japan on the 28th of last month, Prime Minister Kishida said, "It is regrettable that the statue of the comfort women continues to be installed. This is completely contrary to Japan's position," and demanded its removal.

It is unusual for the Japanese Prime Minister to directly request the removal of the Statue of Peace. A Japanese government official told the Sankei Shimbun, "Although we have pressured for removal at various levels until now, if the Prime Minister conveys the message, it will be a strong signal."

The Statue of Peace in Berlin's Mitte district was installed on September 1, 2020, for a one-year period, organized by the Korea Council, a civic group of Koreans living in Germany.

Due to Japan's protest, it was almost removed two weeks after installation, but when the Korea Council filed a lawsuit, the Mitte district office suspended the removal order. The Mitte district office later extended the installation period by one year until September 28 of this year.

The inscription on the Berlin Statue of Peace explains that during World War II, the Japanese military forcibly took women across Asia and the Pacific as sex slaves, and it pays tribute to the courage of survivors campaigning to prevent the recurrence of such war crimes.

A senior official from Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said regarding this, "We cannot allow inaccurate descriptions to remain," and added, "Although there are civic group activities, it is not easy, but we aim to realize removal through an all-out effort," according to the Sankei Shimbun.