'Comfort Woman' Statue Uncomfortable Relations between South Korea-Japan

'Comfort Woman' Statue & Uncomfortable Relations 

between South Korea-Japan

A news "Japan Recalls Envoy To South Korea Over'Comfort Woman Statue'" led to finding of the details about 'Comfort Women'.

Image Courtesy: dailykos.com

Comfort women were girls and women who were forced into sexual slavery by the Imperial Japanese Army. These women were from occupied territories of IJA  before and during World War II.

As per testimonies young women were abducted from their homes in countries under Imperial Japanese rule. In most of the cases women were lured with promises of getting employment in restaurants or factories. Once recruited they were imprisoned in comfort stations both inside their nations and abroad. 

The name 'Comfort Women' is translation of Japanese ianfu, a substitute for 'prostitute (s)'.

 

 

A 'comfort women' statue made in front of the Japanese consulate in Busan South Korea has led to recalling of its Envoy to South Korea by Japan. Japan has also decided to suspend economic talks in response to the placing of the statue.

Many Koreans were among those forced into sexual slavery in front-line brothels for Imperial Japanese Army during World War II. Forcing into such slavery is called the 'comfort woman' system. It is estimated that upto 200,000 women, mainly Korean were forced to work sex slaves. 

In every large scale conflict armed conflict women become victims of sexual violence. In most of the cases  this is kept quiet - by victims, perpetrators and government leaders. Shame, stigma  and feelings of guilt have made them maintain silence about their  wartime experiences for decades.