▲ Comfort women's monument in front of the Japanese embassy.

Recently, a Japanese graphic designer posted an image degrading the comfort women’s monument of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan in front of the Japanese Embassy in Korea. The Japanese right-winger also posted a sign saying ‘Takeshima is Japanese territory’ beside the comfort women’s monument two years ago. These atrocities showed the government remains incapable of seeking out a suitable international response.

The Dankook Herald (DKH) participated in the Wednesday Assembly to find out more precise information about the current situation and issues facing the campaign. We thought about the regular Wednesday Assembly's ability to solve the issues relating to the Military Sexual Slavery by Japan. Furthermore, we prepared an interview with people who are interested in the actions being taken to solve the problems of the Military Sexual Slavery by Japan.

DKH interviewed Oh Ga-ram a volunteer at the Wednesday Assembly to find out about the influence of the assembly. He has attended the assembly since last year and has a firm belief: the assembly has resulted in positive changes that could help address the problems relating to the Military Sexual Slavery by Japan. Unlike last year, there are more students participating in the assembly. The media has given it more attention recently. Besides, he suggested, it establishes a historical consciousness about the Military Sexual Slavery by Japan.

DKH interviewed Kim Sam, the president of the association for addressing the Military Sexual Slavery by Japan, known as ‘Peaceful Butterfly’ to delve further into the issue. She first started taking part in the Wednesday Assembly in 2011. She spent all her university life dealing with activities surrounding the Military Sexual Slavery by Japan. We asked that is the Wednesday Assembly effective for addressing the issues of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan? “Actually, it has lasted for 23years, so it is powerful. Citizens can exert their power there, but it is a bit short. We absolutely need to the help of the government. Citizens take part in, not only many volunteer organizations, but also in the Wednesday Assembly.

However, it can’t ultimately solve a lot of hard feelings surrounding the Military Sexual Slavery by Japan,” she answered. We also asked that is the government trying to cope with the situation actively? “The government is securing only official statements, but it is not getting the redress measure we are seeking. It’s time to present a policy which can really help the victims. According to her, it’s the citizens who have been driving the call to solve the situation for a long time, not the government,” she said.

Finally, DKH met Yoon Mee-hyang (representative for The Korean Council for the Women Drafted for the advice. She started the Wednesday Assembly in 1991 in front of the Japanese embassy. The reason why they have the Wednesday Assembly is to make this society aware of our concerns and objectives. The goal is not to repeat the same mistakes. “The government is not active. It’s a big problem. But citizens are not active as well. The measures were looking for can be achieved with the help of both government and citizens. We should strive to get an apology from Japan and get inspired by speaking to the victims who have been agonizing over this their whole lives,” she replied to the question about the level of initiative taken by the government.

A practical countermeasure is needed to solve the problem. Everyone should remember the problem all time. We need to regard it as our problem instead of it simply being someone else’s issue. We should realize that if we simply forget it, the same situation could happen again. All people have to concern themselves with the problem and take part in activities that bring greater awareness to the issue. There are lots of activities which citizens can participate in such as House of Sharing, Approaching, and the Wednesday Assembly.

If a broadcasting system were to make a documentary about it, it would be great. There are lots of items for broadcasting interests such as the present life of the victims and their past sufferings. As a result of showing the broadcast, more people will care about it than they did in the past. If the government makes an official day marking the anniversary of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan, it will also help generate awareness. Everyone will remember the agony and lament on every anniversary.

The government should enthusiastically engage in diplomatic activities that aim to resolve the issue. The Constitutional Court decided that the passive response of the government is a violation of the constitution. It is contrary to the positive attitude of an international government. Therefore it is incumbent on the government to actively prepare a systems of countermeasures. It is very important to raise awareness on this issue. Every statesman should present a policy about it. Furthermore, all people should realize this instance of human suffering has priority over everything else.