'Berlin Girl Statue' Survives Demolition Threat... Rekindling Japan-Korea Historical Conflict

Grandmother Lee Yong-soo Urges Withdrawal of Demolition Order at Press Conference... Political Circles Join In
Gwangbokhoe Sends Official Letters to German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Mitte District Mayor Requesting Cancellation of Demolition Order

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] As South Korea and Japan resumed exchanges after implementing the ‘Special Entry System’ on the 8th to simplify entry procedures for short-term business visitors, the two countries have begun clashing again over the issue of removing the ‘Berlin Comfort Women Statue.’ While the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is maintaining a cautious stance, the matter is gaining weight as lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties, including Yoon Mi-hyang of the Democratic Party of Korea, visited the German Embassy in South Korea to deliver a letter opposing the removal, expanding the issue into the political arena.

The Korea Verband, which led the installation of the ‘Statue of Peace’ in the Mitte district of Berlin, Germany’s capital, filed an injunction to suspend the execution of the removal order at the Berlin Administrative Court on the 14th, ahead of the deadline set by the Mitte district office for removal. As a result, the removal of the ‘Statue of Peace’ has been temporarily halted. After receiving the injunction application, Stefan von Dassel, mayor of Berlin Mitte, stated, “Since the court has received the injunction application to suspend the removal order, we have more time,” and expressed a willingness to “discuss a harmonious solution.”

The issue is rapidly escalating. Particularly, reports from Japanese media claiming that the Japanese government’s behind-the-scenes diplomatic efforts influenced the Mitte district’s decision have sparked public outrage. The far-right Japanese Sankei Shimbun mentioned the 2015 Korea-Japan agreement and alleged accounting irregularities by the Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance, which supported the production costs of the ‘Statue of Peace,’ reporting that the Japanese government conducted a diplomatic campaign.

Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schr?der and his wife, along with local Germans and Japanese civic groups, have also expressed opposition to the statue’s removal. Kim So-yeon, wife of former Chancellor Schr?der, criticized on Facebook on the 11th (local time), “My husband and I sent a letter to the Mitte district requesting the withdrawal of the removal order. The Japanese government’s pressure to remain silent rather than face the brutal history of war violence is a denial of history,” emphasizing, “German authorities must not participate in concealing Japan’s war crimes.”

The Japanese civic group ‘National Action to Resolve the Issue of Comfort Women’ held a rally in front of the Prime Minister’s Office in Tokyo and submitted a protest letter to the Cabinet Office urging the withdrawal of the statue’s removal. The letter stated, “The Japanese government repeatedly requested removal, leading the Mitte district to issue the removal order,” and expressed, “Upon hearing this news, we cannot suppress feelings of shame and anger.”

Additionally, the Korean Liberation Association sent an official letter to German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the mayor of Mitte district demanding the cancellation of the removal order for the ‘Statue of Peace.’ In the letter sent on the 13th, the association expressed disappointment at Mitte district’s capitulation to the Japanese government’s removal demands and pointed out that it casts doubt on Germany’s sincerity in reflecting on the Nazi regime’s crimes against humanity.

The Korean political sphere has also joined in. On the 13th, 113 members of the National Assembly from the Democratic Party of Korea, the Justice Party, and the Basic Income Party delivered a letter protesting the removal order of the ‘Statue of Peace’ to the German Embassy in South Korea. The letter, proposed by lawmaker Yoon Mi-hyang, stated, “It would be a regrettable event to write another history of human rights violations in Berlin,” expressing “deep concern and regret.” The Democratic Party of Korea also issued a separate statement strongly regretting the unilateral removal order by Berlin Mitte and the continued removal pressure by the Japanese government.

Despite strong backlash from the international community and Korean political circles, the Japanese government is taking a hardline stance. In addition to the statue issue, Japan has revived the forced labor ruling issue from the Japanese colonial era. Recently, Japan’s Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga conveyed to the South Korean government that he would not attend the upcoming Korea-China-Japan summit in South Korea unless acceptable measures regarding the forced labor issue are taken by the Korean government. The Japanese government demanded guarantees that the assets of Japanese companies seized by Korean courts would not be liquidated.

Japan has not hesitated to make provocative remarks. At a regular press conference on the 13th, Minister Kato Katsunobu said, “The liquidation of seized Japanese company assets would cause a serious situation in Korea-Japan relations and should be avoided,” adding, “We are demanding that Korea propose a solution acceptable to Japan.” This approach shifts responsibility for resolving the issue onto the South Korean government, politicizing historical matters.

In response, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has taken a cautious stance, considering various possibilities and reviewing appropriate responses. The ministry believes that South Korea’s direct involvement in the issue as a countermeasure is a scenario desired by the Japanese government. There is also analysis that Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga may highlight historical conflicts further to strengthen his domestic political position amid unfavorable public opinion toward South Korea in Japan.

Deputy Spokesperson Lee Jae-woong of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, “The recent words and actions of the Japanese government run counter to the spirit of responsibility, apology, and reflection they themselves declared regarding comfort women victims,” adding, “We are closely monitoring the situation and reviewing appropriate responses.”

Meanwhile, grandmother Lee Yong-soo, a victim of the Japanese military’s comfort women system, will hold a press conference on the afternoon of the 14th in front of the National Assembly main building, urging the withdrawal of the ‘Statue of Peace’ removal order. Democratic Party lawmaker Yang Ki-dae will also attend the press conference. Afterward, grandmother Lee plans to visit the German Embassy in South Korea to deliver a petition.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

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