Surviving comfort woman applauds decision to dissolve Reconciliation and Healing Foundation

The comfort woman statue in front of the Japanese embassy in Seoul on Nov. 21, the day the South Korean government announced the dissolution of the Reconciliation and Healing Foundation. (Kang Chang-kwang, staff photographer)

Getting an apology for Abe is the last remaining step, Kim Bok-dong says

“[The Reconciliation and Healing Foundation] has to come tumbling down before I can feel assured that it’s been completely dissolved. I’m worried that they’ll keep putting off the foundation’s dissolution even after the announcement.”

That’s what former comfort woman Kim Bok-dong said from her hospital bed on Nov. 21 when she heard that the South Korean government had officially announced that the Reconciliation and Healing Foundation is being shut down.

“It’s too bad it’s taken so long. But I’m glad to hear they’re finally paying attention to this old woman’s wishes by shutting down the foundation,” Kim said.

The 93-year-old woman is currently in a battle with cancer. This past September, she took part in a one-person protest calling for the foundation’s dissolution just five days after undergoing an operation. On Thursday, Kim was discharged from the hospital and relocated to a nursing home.

“All that’s left now is getting an apology from Abe. I hope the government will work even harder to make that happen before I die,” she said.

Comfort woman survivor Kim Bok-dong calls for the dissolution of the Reconciliation and Healing Foundation during a one-person protest in front of the Central Government Complex in Seoul on Sept. 3. (Kang Chang-kwang, staff photographer)

All the other former comfort women who live in the House of Sharing were reportedly delighted to learn that the foundation is being dissolved. “The government betrayed the former comfort women when it established the foundation with money received from Japan. I’m glad it’s finally being shut down,” Lee Ok-seon was quoted as saying.

Kang Il-chul and Park Ok-seon said they hope the government will make an effort to get an apology from Japan and that they’ll quickly return the 1 billion yen (US$8.85 million) donated by Japan.

At noon on Wednesday, the Justice and Memory Coalition for Resolving the Issue of Sex Slaves for the Japanese Army released a statement in which they welcomed the dissolution of the Reconciliation and Healing Foundation during the 1,362nd regular Wednesday demonstration in front of the comfort women statue, located near the former site of the Japanese embassy in Seoul’s Jongno District. The demonstration included a symbolic ceremony in which participants tore up yellow posters that said “Reconciliation and Healing Foundation” on one side and “2015 South Korea-Japan Agreement” on the other side.

“The 1 billion yen received from Japan as a consolatory payment must be returned to the Japanese government in its entirety,” said Yoon Mi-hyang, president of the coalition.

The House of Sharing released a position statement of its own. “The 1 billion yen donated by Japan must be quickly returned in accordance with the wishes of the former comfort women, and we hope that the government will scrap or invalidate its 2015 comfort women agreement with Japan on that basis,” the organization said.

But there’s expected to be controversy since Seoul reserves the right to use the remaining money (around 5.8 billion won) on commemorative projects for the comfort women in consultation with the Japanese government if it’s unable to return the 1 billion yen.

Civic demonstrators gather near the comfort women memorial in front of the Japanese embassy on Nov. 21, the day the South Korean government announced the dissolution of the Reconciliation and Healing Foundation.

Civic demonstrators gather near the comfort women memorial in front of the Japanese embassy on Nov. 21, the day the South Korean government announced the dissolution of the Reconciliation and Healing Foundation.

By Hwang Ye-rang, staff reporter

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