Ghastly reminders
SEOUL — Five buses in the South Korean capital have started carrying “comfort women” statues to remind people of the trauma suffered by women and girls who were forced into sexual slavery by the Japanese before and during World War II.
The project, titled “Dream Lost by Girls”, marks the fifth anniversary of the International Memorial Day for “comfort women”, a euphemism for the victims.
The project was funded by a civilian, Rim Jin-wook, who heads bus company Dong-A Traffic Service.
Statues of young women have been placed on the seats of five buses that will travel around central Seoul, an area that includes the Japanese embassy, several universities and middle and high schools.
“I wanted to help students be reminded of our painful history and establish a right perception of history,” Rim said.
On Aug 14, 1991, the now deceased Kim Hak-soon gave the first testimony about her experiences as a sex slave when she was a young woman during World War II.
Her recollections not only brought the lies of the Japanese government to public attention but gave other survivors the courage to tell their stories.
Historians estimate that about 200,000 women were forced into sexual slavery on the Korean Peninsula during Japanese colonial rule between 1910-45.
The statues being carried by the buses are almost identical to bronze ones that have been placed at more than 70 areas across the country.
However, the bus statues are made from fiber-reinforced plastic for the safety of passengers.
The women are depicted with their fists clenched in their laps to express their resolve to tell the truth. They look impassive but determined, with birds sitting on their shoulders to symbolize peace and freedom. Their heels are not attached to the ground to represent the insecurity of their lives at the time.
The buses will run in Seoul for 45 days. During the traditional Chuseok holiday in October, the statues will be moved to five major cities across the country.