After talking to one of my friends who lives in Seoul, I was shocked to learn about the House of Sharing for comfort women. This is where the women who were used as ‘comfort’ by the Japan army in the 2nd World War now live. I hadn’t heard of the ‘comfort women’ within my school history lessons or on my travels around the world. I wanted to know more and how I could show my support to these women, which is when I heard about the Wednesday demonstrations outside the Japanese Embassy.
When and Where does it happen?
Every Wednesday since 8th January 1992, when Japan’s Prime Minister visited the Republic of Korea, the surviving victims and others supporting their cause take to the street near the Japanese embassy. They are asking for a proper apology from the Japanese government who deny that comfort women were forcefully taken during this time. In December 2011, a golden statue of a women was erected next to the Japanese embassy in honour of the ‘comfort women’ on the 1000th demonstration.
Previously, the Japanese government have offered an apology but the women do not feel it is enough. They want their treatment to be part of Japanese history, and there is no mention of them in Japanese textbooks. In addition to this the new Japanese prime minister, Shinzo Abe, appears to question the country’s earlier apology and one nationalist mayor speaks of the importance of these women (Source: BBC).
The Japanese Government have requested multiple times for the statue to be removed and this was agreed by the South Korean government in December 2015. She was still there on my visit in December 2016, one year after they agreed to remove it.
What happened to these comfort women?
Comfort Women liberated at the end of WWll
To avoid the Japanese soldiers from raping local women they were provided with ‘comfort women’ who provided sexual services to the Japanese Imperial Army during World War 2. Whilst at first these were Japanese prostitutes who volunteered for the job, as their empire grew, so did the need for women and they did not have enough volunteers.
Women were forcibly seized against their will, either lured by advertisements offering them other work or taken from fathers who had insulted Japanese army members. Some came from neighbouring countries or even as far away as the Netherlands to serve in comfort stations.
Approximately 75% of women died and survivors were left infertile from the trauma or sexually transmitted diseases. Beating and torture were common and females who refused to provide services were executed. The women would have to service 25 – 35 men a day.
How can I show support to these women?
The demonstration takes place outside the Japanese embassy every Wednesday at midday. It is on a side street off the main road next to the Golden Statue. You can show your support here for these ladies.
Approx location of the Golden Statue
In addition to this you can visit the House of Sharing which is located in Gwangju on the outskirts of Seoul.
Address: #65 Wongdang-ri, Twoichon-myon, Gwangju-si, Gyunggi-do, South Korea, 464-840
Here nine of the surviving ‘comfort women’ live. Next door is a museum which documents their story. The House of Sharing is looking for volunteers to carry out tours within the museum and help look after these women. Contact them on:
+82-31-768-0064~5
+82-31-768-1545
You can learn more about the House of Sharing via their website and Facebook page or email them on nanum365@gmail.com
Did you know about the use of comfort women? Have you been to show your support or been to the house of sharing? Please comment below. Don’t forget to subscribe (It’s free!) to my blog for more posts like this and interesting travel tips.
Oh no…sad what those poor women had to go through. Before this article, I had never heard of comfort women. That must have been extremely traumatising.
It is so sad. I was so surprised that I hadn’t heard about them before going to Seoul
I have always been a proponent of women’s rights and equality. This pains me to read this – but at the same time, it is very good to know that something is being done to address this.
This is really sad, Kathy. I had never heard of comfort women either before reading your post. I can understand why they want more recognition and more of a sincere apology from the Japanese government – I would too if I were them.
It really is sad. There so many things that I have learnt about whilst travelling that I was not taught in history lessons. I really feel strongly about this hence why I joined the demonstration to support their cause.
Its such a dark chapter of the history. To even think women were subjugated to such ill fate and ill treatment sends chills down my spine… and to think some of them are still living somewhere..I would like to pay my respect to them for fighting through all this bravely
It is a cruel world that we live in. It is terrible what humans can do to each other. So sad.
I’ve never heard of “comfort women” before. It’s such a sad part of history that should be remembered. These women are brave for protesting and hopefully by their protests this will be added to our history lessons.
By standing up in what they believe in and demonstrating, they have educated me and then you in what happened to them. I hope one day the world will see it documented in history.
Wow. This is a part of history many would like to forget. Kudos to those who shine lights in dark places. We must know history- even the ugly parts so it is never repeated. Things like this are difficult to share with children but they must know when they are old enough. One day theceotid will belong to them and they need to know. What a touching place. Thanks for sharing.
You are welcome Natalie. I agree how it would be difficult to learn about this in history lessons in school due to it not being children friendly. It really was touching to be part of this.
It is a horrible part of history, and further atrocities of war. I was aware of the comfort women being forcibly kidnapped, but you shared some additional, and horrific, details.
Whoa. I had no idea. Even the name is atrocious. While I hate reading about stuff like this, it is so good to get it out into the open so more people can aid them in fighting for an apology and a place in the history books.
It makes for a shocking read but I am glad that I have taught you a little more about their situation.