“What we fear most is that our painful history is forgotten.”
These are the words of the victim's grandmother engraved on the copper plate next to the 'Comfort Women' memorial in San Francisco. Not only grandmothers, but we are also afraid that history will be forgotten. Painful memories are easily buried in brilliant history. But we know. That history belongs to those who remember. We have a duty to inform future generations of history that contains correct historical truth.
The Jin Duck & Kyung Sik Kim Foundation joined forces with Koreans in Northern California to fulfill their obligations.
KEMS-TV documentary 'Butterfly, Flies in the Pacific Ocean' with the theme of Japanese military comfort women
Until the monument is built
A memorial was erected in St. Mary's Square in the center of San Francisco on September 22, 2017 in honor of the 'comfort women' victims of sex slaves who were forcibly mobilized by the Japanese military during World War II. This monument was built with the aim of defending human rights without recurring a painful history.
We believe that the monument for 'comfort women' should be erected by the Japanese government. Unfortunately, Japan was in a hurry to cover up its mistakes and even turned victims of 'comfort women' into voluntary prostitutes, ignoring the truth of history. This attitude of the Japanese government won the sympathy of the victims of 'comfort women' including Korea, and in San Francisco, 13 communities including the victims of Korea, China, the Philippines, and the Netherlands as well as Japanese organizations began to build the 'comfort women' monument. I did. It is to inform the truth of history right away.
News of the adoption of the resolution and declaration of the Millbrae city comfort women victims introduced in Arirang News
"Comfort Women" is the Japanese Imperial government's euphemism for the women and children they trafficked as sex slaves between 1932 and 1945 during World War II. Most of the victims were Korean, although many also came from China, the Philippines, Indonesia, the Netherlands, Burma, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Australia, East Timor, Hong Kong, and Macau. While some were recruited by false advertisements promising work as house maids, factory workers and the like, the majority were abducted and violently coerced into sexual slavery for Japanese soldiers at government sponsored stations intended to improve army morale. It is estimated that some 400,000 women and children were forced to be sex slaves for Japanese soldiers and officers at these government-sponsored stations. The "Comfort Women" were often kept in sub-human conditions and suffered from starvation, physical and psychological abuse, disease, infections, and rampant STD's. Only about 25% of the victims survived the end of the war. Many had already died from their conditions and many more were executed before Allied troops would be able to find evidence of their existence. Along with their bodies, the Japanese government attempted to destroy all documentation and evidence that the "Comfort Women" had ever existed.
The survivors returned home bearing heavy burdens of psychological distress, physical ailments, and shame. Many lived out their days ostracized from family and community. Not until the 1990's did their stories begin to surface publicly. In 1990, the Republic of South Korea began to ask for amends from the Japanese government, and in 1991, Hak-sun Kim, a Korean "Comfort Woman", became the first to share her story publicly. That year, the Japanese government publicly acknowledged that "Comfort Women" stations did exist during World War II. But since that time, especially during the governance of Japan by Prime Minister Abe Shinzo, there has been continuous disagreement and unrest between the Japanese government and the victim communities about coming to fair and just terms of resolution. Gradually, monuments for the "Comfort Women" are being built around the world to memorialize the victims and their communities and to educate new generations of the dangers of warfare and a global responsibility to protect human rights. The "Comfort Women" Memorial in the City of San Francisco was spearheaded by Korean, Chinese, and Filipino activists and philanthropists and is the first of its kind to be co-created by the 13 victim communities. Plans are underway to build sister statues in major cities of many of the former victim counties.
“From 1931 to 1945, hundreds of thousands of women and girls from 13 countries in Asia-Pacific including Korea and China were taken to the so-called'comfort women' by the Japanese military and suffered.”
Meaning of the SF 'comfort women' memorial
The San Francisco 'comfort women' monument is the first monument to be established in a large city in the United States. Seven out of 11 San Francisco city council members participated and proposed a resolution to build the 'comfort women' memorial, which was passed unanimously at the city council on September 14, 2015. While the statue of a'comfort woman' girl has been erected in various places in the United States, San Francisco is the only monument to be erected through a resolution by the city council.
In addition, the 'comfort women' commemorative project has been led by Korea, where the most victims are reported. However, in San Francisco, 13 communities participated not only in Korea but also in China, the Philippines, the Netherlands, and Japan. A Jewish community with memories of the massacre of countless people as a holocaust during World War II also joined. Until now, the largest community has participated in the'Comfort Women' Memorial Project.
The active participation of Koreans in Northern California is also essential. Koreans in Northern California actively participated in raising the money needed to build the 'comfort women' memorial. You and I, both of you and me, have been together in spreading the truth of history. Without the participation of Koreans in Northern California, the monument would not have been built.
김한일 대표와 김순란 이사장 등 김진덕 정경식 재단 관계자들이 마이크 혼다 전 연방하원의원과 위안부정의연대(CWJC) 릴리안 싱, 쥴리 탱 공동의대표와 함께 한국을 방문해 이용수 할머니 등 위안부 피해자들과 만남을 가지고 있다.
San Francisco’s “Comfort Women” Memorial
Stands for Victims of Sex Trafficking Saint Mary’s Square, SF
On September 22nd, just two weeks before the “Me Too” movement, the Korean American Community and “Comfort Women” Justice Coalition inaugurated a monument in San Francisco dedicated to the victims of one of the largest and least known sex trafficking scandals of the 20th century—the “Comfort Women” sex slaves of World War II. These young girls, boys, and women from 13 countries were abducted and forced into sex servitude by the Japanese Imperial Army.
Many did not survive the brutal conditions they were kept in, and many more were systematically murdered before Allied Forces could discover them. Those few who remain are in their final years, still carrying the mental, emotional, and social trauma of their enslavement. The courageous Kim Hak-Sun is one of the rare survivors and the woman who broke nearly a half century of silence in August of 1991 to share her story publicly. Now, 27 years later, swept up in the maelstrom of the “Me Too” movement, the world is just beginning to wake up to the enormity of what happened to the “Comfort Women.”
It is the wish of all survivors, their families and communities, and the sponsors of the memorial that the “Comfort Women” find peace and that their hard- ship be a cautionary tale for generations to come. As stewards of this monument, it is our intention to honor the sacrifices of the “Comfort Women” in ever widening circles. We hope that in so doing, we can be a voice of hope in the darkness for those 4.5 million women, children, and men who live as sex slaves today and for those countless others who live with painful memories and fear of sexual aggression. Knowledge is power, and the more we share the tragic story of the “Comfort Women,” the more chances we have to help victims of sex trafficking in the world today.
Your choices matter. Many of you have donated to make this memorial a reality, and you have bravely taken responsibility for creating a better world for our children. As awareness of the “Comfort Women” grows in tandem with the “Me Too” movement, you will know that you too created this global shift in equality and human rights. Knowledge is powerfully preventative, and this is what we’re here to do—to mobilize knowledge and reverse human trafficking, the fastest growing crime against humanity today.
Thank you to every single donor and supporter. Your voice and your contribution matter. Thank you to the “Comfort Women” Justice Coalition and especially to chairwomen Judge Lillian Sing and Judge Julie Tang, the visionaries of this memorial. Thank you to Congressman Mike Honda and Commissioner Eric Ma for unwavering support. And thank you to the esteemed leadership of the Republic of South Korea. It is time “We Too” are given a voice.
I will spread the meaning of the Comfort Women monument
After the San Francisco 'Comfort Women' memorial was erected, a ceremony is held at St. Mary's Square every September 22nd. This is because it is important not only to build the monument, but also to reflect on the historical significance of the monument. After the establishment of the monument, Koreans in Northern California, as well as the Americas, Korea, and other parts of the world have visited to see the monument. It's very meaningful.
The resolution passed by the San Francisco City Council includes one more thing besides raising a monument. It is to teach 'comfort women' to future generations through education. It embodies the will of the City Council of San Francisco to learn about the atrocities of the past that are not easy to recall, and that this history will never be repeated again.
The California Department of Education also decided to include the Japanese military 'comfort women' in the 2016 amendment to the History and Social Curriculum Guidelines. This decision by the California Department of Education was made possible by the efforts of the teachers of the North California Council for Korean Americans, who are devoted to the root education of Korean Americans in the northern California region.
Foundation President Jonathan Kim (right) is taking a commemorative photo with former congressman Mike Honda, congressman Andy Kim, and a poster urging UNESCO to list comfort women records. Former Congressman Mike Honda played a leading role in passing the 'comfort women resolution' at the federal parliament level when he served as a congressman, and Assemblyman Andy Kim also agreed to resolve the comfort women problem.
San Francisco soon to be home to landmark Comfort Women Memorial
During the Second World War, young girlsfrom Korea, China, the Philippines, Vietnam, and the Netherlands were abducted from their homes and enslaved as sex workers for the Japanese army. These young women and families who survived derelict conditions, starvation, torture, and the horrors of war would never recover. Shame and trauma haveshadowed their lives and left deep impressions upon their families and communities. This collective wound is now asking to be seen, heard, and healed. Thanks to the impassioned vision and work of the San Francisco Bay Area communities, their story is being transformed into empowerment for future generations.
• For the first time in history, Korean, Chinese, and Filipino communities are joint sponsors of a Comfort Women memorial, and it’s happening here in our very own City of San Francisco.
• The Comfort Women Justice Coalition, chaired by Judge Lillian Sing and Judge Julie Tang, has been particularly instrumental in making this memorial a reality. City Commissioner Eric Mar has also been an indispensable champion of our cause.
• Every single donor is an essential voice, creating a future that will look with reverence to the Comfort Women as reason to ensure human rights for all.
With thanks to all of you for making this memorial possible,
Jonathan H. Kim
President of Jin Duck & Kyung Sik Kim Foundation
Establishment of 'Comfort Women' Memorial Monument in Seoul, South Korea
With Grandma, Yong-soo Lee, a comfort woman victim. Seoul in 2019
On August 14, 2019, a very meaningful event was held in Seoul. The monument of 'comfort women' in Seoul, which follows the meaning of 'comfort women' in San Francisco, was built on Namsan mountain in center of the Seoul.
In the name of Jin Duck and Kyung Sik Kim, founded in the name of the Jin Duck & Kyung Sik Kim Foundation, who were special in their love for the motherland and the support of the Korean community, the donation of the Seoul 'Comfort Women', a symbol of the protection of peace and human rights, to the Seoul Metropolitan Government was to support the teaching and maintenance of parents It was a continuation.
The Seoul 'comfort women' Memorial will remember the pain, struggles and courage of the victims of the comfort women of the Japanese military, pray for peace and justice, and contribute to raising the awareness of human rights of future generations and reminiscing the lessons of history.
The place where the statue was erected is the site of the old Chosun Shrine in Namsan mountain and this area preserves the pain of Japanese imperial acupuncture, and is located nearby the Jung-geun Ahn Memorial Hall, the statue of Doctor Jung-geun Ahn, the statue of Gu Kim, and the Hanyang City Wall Museum. It is expected that it will be greatly utilized in history education for future generations.
The Jin Duck & Kyung Sik Kim Foundation will not only raise the monument in Seoul, but will continue to work to ensure that the monument can be raised in all countries of the 13 communities that have participated in the construction of the 'Comfort Women' monument in San Francisco.
Korean Americans oppose demolition of the girl statue in Berlin, Germany
A few days ago, our foundation received news that the'Girls' statue' installed in Mitte-gu, Berlin, Germany, was being demolished.
This news shocked not only our foundation, but also all Korean Americans in the Americas. This is because the comfort women's monument built in San Francisco was never relieved from the endless interference by the Japanese government and far-right groups until the monument was erected and even after the monument was erected.
The statue of a girl in the city of Berlin, Germany, as well as the San Francisco comfort women's monument, is not a simple sculpture. It is a sculpture that contains the history of human rights annihilation committed by the Japanese military during the past World War II and the suffering of the victims.
Japan was a war criminal state just like Germany during World War II. However, the path the two countries have taken after the war is very different. When Germany bowed down to neighboring countries and made a sincere apology, the Japanese government turned away from the pain of the victims, and hoped that the history of war and slaughter would never be repeated again by building a monument to heal the pain of war in Germany. Japan has distorted history and inflicted even more injuries to victims in neighboring countries, including Korea.
We hope that this behavior of the Japanese government will no longer continue. When Japan kneels in front of the truth of history like Germany and sincerely apologizes and reflects, the victims will be able to heal the wounds in their hearts, and further, together with neighboring countries, will be able to take steps to develop world peace and human rights. There will be.
Our foundation and Korean Americans believe that the Berlin City Government, Germany, does not have a deep understanding of the implications of the establishment of a girl statue. This is because I believe that if I knew the meaning of the girl image, I would not make a decision to'demolition'.
Therefore, with the desperate wishes of Korean Americans, I send a letter to the German government, the city of Berlin, and the people in charge of Mitegu, where the girl statue was installed, to withdraw the decision to remove the girl statue and protect the girl statue.
The letters will be delivered to the German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, Mayor Michael Müller of Berlin, Mayor of Mitte District Stephan von Kassel, Head of Culture and Arts in Berlin, Helge Rehders, in the name of our foundation and organizations representing Korean Americans.
In addition, Korean Americans would like to express their gratitude and support to the German Korea Verband, which is leading the installation of the Girl Statue in Berlin and campaigning against the demolition decision. Thank you.
October 15, 2020
• The following is a letter sent to Germany.
Dear Mayor Stephan von Dassel,
I am Jonathan Kim, co-founder of the Jin Duck and Kyung Sik Kim Foundation based in California. I represent the foundation in addition to ten organizations that span across the country, I am writing to you on behalf of the 2 million members of the Korean American community in the United States.
We are writing to you in regard to the recent decision that the German government made—that of appeasing Japan’s request to remove the “Comfort Women” statue that currently stands in the district of Mitte in Berlin. The members of our community were appalled at Germany’s appeasement. Such callous action was unexpected because of its sensitivity to its own historical atrocities.
On October 14, 2020, we received word that the statue shall remain for the time being. The international community stands in solidarity in our urgent desire for the statue not be removed, but to remain permanently. A former “Comfort Woman” stated, “Our worst fear is that our painful history during World War II will be forgotten.” This painful history should not be forgotten and never be repeated.
The German peoples’ history has been marred by its participation in the Holocaust. During World War II, the German nation committed monumental horrors. Six million Jews were the victim of immeasurable suffering at the hands of German soldiers. The international community—with Germany itself included—rightfully and justly deemed this an atrocity that should never be repeated again in the history of humankind. Germany’s response to this was remarkable in its humanity and integrity. With its harsh punishment against Holocaust denialism, humankind could look upon the German nation as an exemplar of responsible nationhood. Germany appeared to be one of the countries that champion the importance of human rights. Your nation demonstrated a commitment to truth and integrity.
That is, until now.
Germany’s decision to remove the “Comfort Women” statue in Mitte is in direct conflict with the values demonstrated by its fight against Holocaust denialism. The removal of this statue is no small gesture. Indeed, it conveys a selfish sense of hypocrisy.
The Korean American community, in its commitment to the protection of human rights, collaborated with a wide range of communities across the globe. We partnered with the Comfort Women Justice Coalition, the Chinese American community, as well as thirteen “Comfort Women” communities around the world. Together, we worked tirelessly to install “Comfort Women” statues in San Francisco and Seoul.
These “Comfort Women” statues are an important symbol of the acknowledgement of just how important it is to fight for human rights. Part of that fight is to ensure that the international community recognizes historical atrocities, and to serve as a permanent fixture that educates future generations of the dark history that has transpired.
The “Comfort Women” survivors that stand on this globe of ours have been suffering injustice for decades. Year after year, these victimized women go unheard, going to their death beds suffering inhumane injustice. There are 16 “Comfort Women” remaining in South Korea. These people need justice for the war crimes that were committed against them, for the horrors that they survived and carry in their bodies and souls each and every day they still stand alive. They need their voices to be heard.
The international community as a whole stands together firmly in defense of the violation of human rights. I think you would agree that state-sponsored sexual violence and sex trafficking is an appalling assault on humanity that can never be allowed to happen again.
We urge you to allow the “Comfort Women” statue in the Mitte district of Berlin to remain where it stands. Germany has been respected for the way that it handled its own dark history and how compassionate it was towards the suffering of the Jewish people. It’s only fair to extend the same compassion to the “Comfort Women” communities around the world. We hope that Germany will not disappoint the global community. We trust that the German nation will, as it has in the past, do the right thing and continue its commitment to truth and integrity.
Signed on the behalf of 2 million Korean Americans,
Jonathan Kim Co-founder of the Jin Duck & Kyung Sik Kim Foundation
Kyun Hee Park President of the Federation of Korean Associations USA
Moonkey Nam President of the Korean American Presidency Coalition
Suk Chan Lee President of the Korean American Federation of Southwest States, USA
Thomas W. Kim Chairman of the KOREA-USA Exchange Committee
Sunghee Park President of the Korean Women’s International Network San Francisco
Jeny Kwak Weber President of the Korean American Community Center of San Francisco & Bay Area
Sean Park President of the Silicon Valley Korean American Federation
Joseph Jung President of the Oakland & East Bay Korean American Association
Mun Yi President of the Korean American Community Organization of Monterey
Paul Hyunpo Cho President of the Sacramento Valley Korean American Community