Hyun-jung Kim emphasized the significance of not forgetting the truth about the comfort women. “A lot has happened in 10 years, and the city of Glendale has done an exceptional job of safeguarding the statue. It is crucial for our community to demonstrate unwavering support to ensure that the city of Glendale can continue protecting it,” she said.
The Glendale ‘Comfort Woman’ Statue, unveiled on July 30, 2013, replicates the one located across the street from the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, South Korea. Serving as a symbol of the victims of wartime sexual slavery for the Japanese military during World War II, it was the first Girl of Peace Statue to be erected in Glendale.
At present, out of the 240 registered victims of wartime sexual slavery, only nine comfort women remain, all of whom are in their 90s. Historians estimate that during the war, as many as 200,000 women, predominantly from Korea, were coerced into frontline brothels to serve Japanese troops.
Since the statue’s erection, numerous challenges have arisen, including persistent pressure from Japan to have it removed. In 2014, a petition to remove the statue was posted on the White House’s petition site and received over 100,000 signatures. Additionally, members of a Japanese far-right organization filed a lawsuit against the city of Glendale, seeking the statue’s removal. The legal battle persisted for three years, ultimately resulting in the Japanese side’s defeat, allowing the statue to remain. However, Kim emphasized the need for the organization to remain vigilant and closely monitor future developments.
The ceremony saw an attendance of more than 230 individuals, including local residents representing the Chinese American-led comfort women’s rights organization, Comfort Women Justice Coalition (CWJC).
Glendale Mayor Dan Brotman, present at the event, emphasized the clarity of history regarding the systematic program that deceived, kidnapped, and enslaved women and girls to provide sexual services for the Japanese military. He stressed the importance of educating younger generations about this dark chapter of history.
BY SANGJIN KIM [kim.sangjin@koreadaily.com]
