'Statue of Peace' Installed in Berlin, Germany Faces Removal Threat... "Removal Demanded by the 14th"

Demolition Demand to Korea Association in Berlin Mitte District
Korea Association Considering Legal Action with Civic Groups

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] The 'Statue of Peace' erected in Berlin, Germany, is facing the threat of removal.

On the 7th (local time), Berlin's Mitte District sent an official letter to the Korea Council, a Korean-related civic group that organized the installation of the Statue of Peace, ordering the statue to be removed by the 14th. Mitte District has also indicated that if the statue is not voluntarily removed, they will enforce compulsory removal and charge the costs to the Korea Council.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Mitte District cited the deterioration of relations between Germany and Japan as the reason for the removal. They particularly pointed out that the inscription on the Statue of Peace targets Japan from the Korean perspective. When the statue was installed, it was agreed upon on the grounds that it addressed the issue of violence against women committed during wartime worldwide, but this is now being contested.

The inscription states that during World War II, the Japanese military forcibly took women across the Asia-Pacific region as sex slaves, and it pays tribute to the courage of women campaigning to prevent such war crimes.

After the installation of the statue became known, the Japanese government pressured the German government to remove it. On the 1st, Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu requested the removal of the statue during a phone call with German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas.

The Korea Council explained, "We plan to persuade through dialogue with Mitte District" and "are preparing press conferences and rallies." It is also known that the Korea Council is considering filing injunctions with the court while cooperating with civic groups for a joint response.

Earlier, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs criticized Japan's pressure to remove the Statue of Peace installed in Berlin during a regular briefing, calling it "a move contrary to Japan's declared sense of responsibility and spirit of apology." Ministry spokesperson Kim In-cheol stated, "The installation of the statue is a voluntary civilian movement," and added, "Government involvement in forcibly removing it will never help resolve the issue."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.