Support for 'Wianbu' Education Program Also Suspended
As the 'Statue of Peace' installed in Berlin, Germany faces the threat of removal, reports have emerged that the Berlin mayor pressured to halt funding for a civic group's 'comfort women' education program, fearing conflicts with the Japanese government.
Subsequently, the program's funding was cut off, and suspicions arose that the Japanese embassy also attempted to exert influence during this process.
On the 4th, Yonhap News, citing German local media rbb, reported that Berlin Mayor Wegner called a member of the advisory committee responsible for reviewing cultural education project funding, demanding a budget cut for the Korea Council's human rights education, citing potential disputes with the Japanese government.
Mayor Wegner contacted a member of the advisory committee deciding on city program funding, urging them to reject the Korea Council's application due to possible conflicts with the Japanese government.
Previously, the Korea Council applied for a support budget of 87,000 euros (approximately 130 million KRW) and passed the first round of evaluation by a panel of art and education experts but was rejected in April by the advisory committee composed of internal and external Berlin city officials.
The funding structure involves an evaluation by a panel of artists and educators, followed by a decision from an 11-member advisory committee. The advisory committee consists of internal members from the Berlin Senate and external members. It is known that the evaluation panel recommended supporting the Korea Council's project. However, after Mayor Wegner contacted the advisory committee, the vote resulted in the Korea Council's project being excluded from funding.
Following the report, Berlin city authorities stated, "Project funding decisions are made by majority vote, and the committee is not disclosed," adding, "We cannot comment on or evaluate the committee's decisions."
However, rbb reported that the Japanese embassy in Germany lobbied advisory committee members by hosting a dinner at a five-star hotel in Berlin, urging them to oppose the budget support. A source relaying this information said that the embassy's cultural affairs officer initially showed interest in the committee members' activities but then shifted the conversation to persuade them to vote against the Korea Council's project.
The Japanese embassy did not respond to rbb's inquiry about lobbying. Instead, it claimed that the Korea Council's human rights education "spreads one-sided stories" and "instills anti-Japanese sentiment in young Germans who lack knowledge about Asia."
However, Han Jeong-hwa, head of the Korea Council, rebutted, saying, "The education addresses overall sexual violence issues and is not a one-sided criticism of Japan. The project application did not include any content related to Japan."
In September 2020, when the statue was installed in Berlin, the local Mitte district office ordered its removal in response to Japanese protests. The Korea Council filed an injunction with the court, which postponed the removal order.
In May, Mayor Wegner met with Japanese Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko in Tokyo and indicated support for monuments opposing violence against women but suggested that the statue should be removed, stating that there should be no more one-sided expressions.
The Mitte district office, which has administrative authority over the statue, also stated that the special permit period ended in September 2022 and plans to impose fines after the 28th of next month.
Meanwhile, the Korea Council, which led the establishment of the Berlin statue in 2020, has been conducting human rights education on sexual violence, including exhibition sexual crimes, under the name 'Sit Next to Me (the Statue)' for Berlin-area youth since the following year. Mainly operated through citizen donations, the Korea Council has received support from the Berlin city government to alleviate financial difficulties and for historical education. It is also known that they planned to collaborate with eight youth organizations across six districts this time.
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