Overseas "Statues of Peace" Threatened by Japan and Far-Right Groups

35 Statues Installed in 10 Countries Worldwide; Stronger Management Needed
Baek Seungah: "Prompt Passage of the Comfort Women Statue Protection Act Needed"

Seungah Baek, member of the Democratic Party of Korea.

Amid the recent official order to remove the "Statue of Peace," symbolizing victims of the Japanese military's wartime sexual slavery, from Berlin, Germany by October 7, there have been calls for measures to address the pressure to remove and acts of vandalism against similar statues around the world.

According to data submitted by Assemblywoman Seungah Baek (proportional representative) of the Democratic Party of Korea, based on the "Status of Domestic and Overseas Comfort Women Statues" provided by the Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance for the Issues of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan, there are currently 155 statues in South Korea and 35 statues in 10 other countries.

By country (excluding South Korea), the United States has the most with 16 statues, followed by Germany with 5, Japan with 4, China, the Philippines, and Australia with 2 each, and Hong Kong, Canada, Italy, and Spain with 1 each.

During last year’s National Assembly audit, there were also calls for stronger measures to prevent vandalism and to enhance the management and oversight of the comfort women statues. In response, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family established a "Management Plan for Monuments to Remember Victims of the Japanese Military Sexual Slavery," which includes requiring local governments to submit management plans for the statues, conducting regular status inspections, and carrying out promotional activities. The ministry is also currently conducting regular inspections of all statues installed nationwide through local governments.

Assemblywoman Baek emphasized, "Overseas comfort women statues serve as symbols of peace, commemorating the victims and ensuring that such war crimes are never repeated." She added, "They must not be removed due to Japan’s political lobbying or damaged by far-right groups." She further stated, "I will expedite the passage of the 'Comfort Women Statue Protection Act,' which I sponsored, to institutionalize the management system."