What is the definition of “comfort women”?

The “Comfort Women” were young girls from various Asian/Asia-Pacific countries who were kidnapped and/or tricked into sexual slavery by Japan during World War II to “raise the morale” of Japanese soldiers. These victims were dubbed as “comfort women,” which is a translation of the Japanese ianfu, a euphemism for “prostitute.” This term was coined to ameliorate the sexual slavery that the Imperial Japanese Army forced upon abducted girls.

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The Imperial Japanese Army occupied many countries and territories. In these places, they used various methods to lure or even outright kidnap young girls. Some girls were promised work in factories or as nurses. Some girls were threatened with their family’s safety if they did not comply with the soldiers’ orders. Some girls were snatched off the streets without a chance to bid farewell to their loved ones.

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Historically accurate numbers are unavailable due to Japanese attempts to erase proof. However, it is estimated that approximately 400,000 victims (as young as 13) were trafficked. These girls mostly were taken from Korea, China, the Philippines, and Indonesia. Each girl was raped by 50-60 soldiers a day. They were starved, physically and psychologically abused, infected, and contracted STDs. Due to the abuse they were forced to endure, many girls found suicide to be their only escape. Only 15-20% of the victims survived the extreme conditions and many survivors were executed after the Japanese surrender in World War II to hide evidence.

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The survivors that made it back home suffered discrimination and ostracization. They lived in shame for years without any reparations.

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But didn’t the South Korean and Japanese governments come to an agreement in December 2015?

The settlement that the South Korean and Japanese governments reached in December 2015 is repudiated by surviving Korean “comfort women.” Victims were not consulted with and were not a part of any negotiations. This agreement also excludes “comfort women” of other Asian Pacific countries.

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The 2015 “agreement”  prohibits South Korea from raising the issue in international spheres (including the United Nations), which strips the victims from seeking any governmental advocacy at the international level. It also demands the removal of “comfort women” statues, which attempts to continue to erase history. “Comfort women” statues exist all around the world in memorial of the victims. The Japanese government has ventured as far as New Jersey to demand a World War II memorial be taken down. Even UN human rights experts were outraged by this “agreement” that they released a joint statement on the issue. A group of United Nations human rights experts said, “We believe the agreement between Japan and South Korea falls short of meeting the demands of survivors. An unequivocal official apology recognizing the full responsibility of the then Japanese Government and military, as well as adequate reparations, would protect and uphold the victims’ right to truth, justice and reparation.We are also deeply concerned that the Republic of Korea may remove a statue commemorating not only the historical issue and legacy of the ‘comfort women’ but also symbolizing the survivors’ long search for justice.”

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The Japanese government has yet to officially apologize. Individual government officials may have personally “apologized” but no official statement has been released. The “1993 Kono statement” was the closest admission of responsibility by the Japanese military. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yohei Kono stated, “The Government study has revealed that in many cases they [comfort women] were recruited against their own will, through coaxing, coercion, etc., and that, at times, administrative/military personnel directly took part in the recruitments.” However, in June 2014, the Japanese Cabinet declared that “there [was] no evidence of coercion.” This repudiated the Kono statement and is another example of unofficial apology followed by contradictory statements, actions, and policies from the Japanese government.

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Who is Kim Bokdong?

Kim Bokdong passed away at the age of 92. She was a “comfort woman” and a human rights activist. When she was 14, Japanese soldiers threatened her family’s safety to force her to work in a factory; she was never taken to a factory and was tricked into sexual slavery until she finally returned home in 1947. It took her 40 years to gain the courage to speak up and demand Japan’s full admission of guilt. Unfortunately, she was unable to hear the apology she deserved before she was put to rest.

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What is our responsibility?

It is our responsibility to keep their stories alive. Only 16 registered “comfort women” are alive in Korea (as of Aug. 2020).

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The most recent “comfort woman” to pass away is Lee Makdal. She was only 17 years old when she was promised a decent job by the Japanese Empire but was forced into military prostitution in Taiwan. As a survivor, she was a passionate activist. Every week, she would travel to participate in protests at both Seoul and Busan. In 2007, she even flew to Los Angeles to share her testimony at the Consulate General of Japan. At the age of 97, she passed away on Aug. 29, 2020.

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Proper reparations must be made before more “comfort women” pass away. It is vital to have justice delivered to these women while they are still alive to witness it. This systemic attempt at erasure of war crimes must be brought to light and stopped.