Statue of Peace in Berlin
{{Short description|Monument for "comfort women" in Berlin}}
{{About|the memorial for "comfort women"|Statue of Peace|Nagasaki Peace Park}}
File:Friedensstatue Trostfrauen in Berlin-Moabit.jpg
The Peace Statue is a monument located in Union Square in the Moabit district of Mitte, Berlin for the "comfort women" (girls and women who were forced into prostitution in Japanese military brothels during World War II). It also serves as a general symbol against sexual violence against girls and women. The monument was initiated by the "Action Group Comfort Women" of the Korea Verband and was unveiled on September 28, 2020.{{Cite web |last=Hunter |first=Benks |url=https://sumikai.com/nachrichten-aus-japan/politik/trostfrauen-friedensstatue-in-berlin-soll-sofort-entfernt-werden-281666/ |title=Bezirksamt in Berlin verlangt Abbau der Trostfrauen-Statue |website=Sumikai. Aktuelle Nachrichten aus Japan |date=October 10, 2020 |access-date=October 11, 2020}} The statue has sparked a discourse on commemorative cultures among local, state, and diplomatic levels.{{Cite news |title="Comfort Woman" in Berlin-Mitte: Why a bronze statue has led to diplomatic complications with Japan for years |newspaper=Der Tagesspiegel |url=https://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/trostfrau-in-berlin-mitte-warum-eine-bronzestatue-seit-jahren-zu-diplomatischen-verwicklungen-mit-japan-fuhrt-9000751.html |access-date=January 4, 2023}}
The bronze statue was designed by the South Korean artist couple Kim Eun-sung (b. 1965) and Kim Seo-kyung.{{Cite web |url=https://world.kbs.co.kr/service/news_view.htm?lang=g&Seq_Code=82860 |title=Peace statue commemorating comfort women erected in Berlin |website=KBS News |date=September 29, 2020 |access-date=October 11, 2020}} It is the first statue of its kind to be installed in a public space in Germany.
Design
The centerpiece of the sculpture is the bronze figure of a young girl in traditional Korean attire (Hanbok). The clothing and age are meant to reflect the victims' situation at the time of their abduction.{{Cite web |url=https://www.koreaverband.de/trostfrauen/friedensstatue/ |title=The Peace Statue |website=Korea-Verband |access-date=October 11, 2020}} Among a studied group of slightly over 800 “comfort women,” 85 percent were over 20 years old.{{Cite web |last=Yi |first=Gwang-pyo |url=https://www.donga.com/news/View?gid=7791480&date=20020226 |title=Ilbongun wianbu myeongdan choecho balgyeon |website=Dong-A Ilbo |date=February 26, 2002 |language=ko |access-date=December 22, 2022}} The study naturally says nothing about the life data of 200,000 other women.
Political controversies
The monument was approved by the Mitte District Office. On September 29, 2020, Japanese Cabinet Secretary and government spokesman Katsunobu Kato announced that they would seek to have the statue removed.{{Cite news |last=Hansen |first=Sven |url=https://taz.de/Umgang-mit-sexualisierter-Kriegsgewalt/!5716087/ |title=Dealing with sexualized war violence: Tokyo against women's statue in Berlin |website=Die Tageszeitung: taz |date=October 7, 2020 |access-date=October 11, 2020}}{{Cite web |last=Kuhrt |first=Aro |url=https://www.berliner-zeitung.de/mensch-metropole/frauen-im-schatten-ein-denkmal-fuer-die-asiatischen-trostfrauen-li.109784 |title=Women in the shadows: A monument for the Asian "comfort women" |website=Berliner Zeitung |date=October 8, 2020 |access-date=October 11, 2020}} Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi reportedly contacted German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas according to the nationalist daily Sankei Shinbun. There had already been similar interventions by the Japanese government in Freiburg and San Francisco.{{Cite web |last=von Richthofen |first=Luisa |url=https://www.dw.com/en/comfort-women-memorial-berlin/a-55272887 |title=Berlin halts demolition of 'comfort women' memorial amid diplomatic row with Japan |website=Deutsche Welle |date=October 14, 2020 |access-date=October 17, 2020 |language=en-GB}}
On October 8, 2020, the Mitte District Office revoked the statue's permit,{{Cite web |url=https://www.berlin.de/ba-mitte/aktuelles/pressemitteilungen/2020/pressemitteilung.1001656.php |title=Bezirksamt Mitte hebt Genehmigung für "Friedensstatue" auf |publisher=Bezirksamt Berlin-Mitte |date=October 8, 2020 |access-date=October 11, 2020}}{{Cite web |author=Aro Kuhrt |url=https://www.berliner-zeitung.de/open-source/tokios-arm-reicht-bis-nach-moabi-li.110818|title=Wie Japan dafür sorgt, dass in Berlin ein Denkmal verschwindet |work=Berliner Zeitung |date=October 12, 2020 |access-date=October 16, 2020}} citing concerns that the statue promoted hatred and was not in line with values of reconciliation. The district mayor of Berlin-Mitte, Stephan von Dassel, also stated that the statue addressed a politically and historically sensitive conflict between two nations, which was not suitable for resolution in Germany. The Korea Verband was ordered to remove the statue by October 14, 2020.{{Cite web |author=Berthold Seliger |url=https://www.jungewelt.de/artikel/388363.erinnerungspolitik-die-trostfrau-von-moabit.html |title=Die »Trostfrau« von Moabit |work=junge Welt |date=October 15, 2020 |access-date=October 14, 2020}} In response to an urgent application by the Korea Verband, the Berlin Administrative Court temporarily halted the removal order.{{Cite web |url=https://www.rbb24.de/kultur/beitrag/2020/10/verwaltungsgericht-berlin-mitte-statue-trostfrauen-korea-verein-japan.html |title=Friedensstatue in Moabit darf vorerst bleiben |work=rbb24.de |publisher=rbb |access-date=October 13, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201020074131/https://www.rbb24.de/kultur/beitrag/2020/10/verwaltungsgericht-berlin-mitte-statue-trostfrauen-korea-verein-japan.html |archive-date=October 20, 2020}} On the same day, 300 people demonstrated in Berlin for the statue's preservation.{{Cite news |author=Sven Hansen |url=https://taz.de/Umstrittenes-Mahnmal-in-Berlin-Moabit/!5717416/ |title=Umstrittenes Mahnmal in Berlin-Moabit: Vom Protest beeindruckt |work=Die Tageszeitung: taz |date=October 13, 2020 |access-date=October 13, 2020}} Alliance 90/The Greens Berlin-Mitte, to which Stephan von Dassel belongs, issued a statement supporting the statue's retention.{{Cite web |author=Alliance 90/The Greens in Berlin-Mitte |url=https://gruene-mitte.de/2020/10/13/pressemitteilung-bvv-fraktion-buendnis-90-die-gruenen-in-mitte-fordert-erhalt-der-friedensstatue/|title=BVV-Fraktion Bündnis 90/Die Grünen in Mitte fordert Erhalt der "Friedensstatue" |date=October 13, 2020 |access-date=October 17, 2020}}
In December 2020, the district assembly of Berlin-Mitte voted in favor of permanently retaining the Peace Statue.{{Cite news |author=Sven Hansen |url=https://taz.de/Streit-um-Statue-beigelegt/!5729024/ |title=Streit um Statue beigelegt: Japan gefällt das nicht |work=Die Tageszeitung: taz |date=December 2, 2020 |access-date=February 15, 2022}} The Korea Verband applied for an extended installation of the statue in the summer of 2021,{{Cite web |author=Kim Hae-yeon |url=https://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20201210000682 |title=[Herald Interview] Woman who saved Statue of Peace in Berlin |work=Korea Herald |date=December 14, 2020 |language=en |access-date=February 15, 2022}}{{Cite web |author=Tomasz Kurianowicz |url=https://www.berliner-zeitung.de/wochenende/eine-friedensstatue-in-berlin-mitte-die-zu-diplomatischen-verwerfungen-fuehrt-li.171016 |title=Eine Friedensstatue in Berlin-Mitte, die für diplomatischen Unfrieden sorgt |work=Berliner Zeitung |date=July 17, 2021 |access-date=February 15, 2022}} which was initially approved by the district office for another year.{{Cite news |author=Sven Hansen |url=https://taz.de/Trostfrauen-Mahnmal-in-Moabit/!5796971/ |title="Trostfrauen"-Mahnmal in Moabit: Weiter Zoff um die Statue |work=Die Tageszeitung: taz |date=September 10, 2021 |access-date=February 15, 2022}} In November 2022, district mayor Stefanie Remlinger announced in a subcommittee meeting of the district assembly that the installation of the Peace Statue in Berlin would be extended for another two years.{{Cite web |url=http://world.kbs.co.kr/service/news_view.htm?lang=g&Seq_Code=93660 |title=Friedensstatue in Berlin-Mitte darf voraussichtlich für zwei weitere Jahre stehen bleiben |work=KBS News |date=November 10, 2022 |access-date=December 18, 2022}}
International censorship
The artist duo Kim Seo-kyung and Kim Eun-sung have faced censorship in Japan, most recently in 2019 when an art exhibition in Nagoya featuring a similar statue was abruptly closed.{{Cite web |author=Laura Helena Wurth |url=https://www.faz.net/aktuell/feuilleton/debatten/die-kunst-mit-kunst-nicht-zu-provozieren-ueber-zensur-in-japan-16726497.html |title=Zensur in Japan: Die Kunst, mit Kunst nicht zu provozieren |work=FAZ |date=April 16, 2020 |access-date=October 14, 2020}}{{Cite web |author=Hanno Hauenstein |url=https://www.berliner-zeitung.de/kultur-vergnuegen/berlin-entfernt-friedensstatue-historische-amnesie-und-zensur-li.111137 |title=Friedensstatue: "Historische Amnesie und Zensur" |work=Berliner Zeitung |date=October 13, 2020 |access-date=October 13, 2020}}
Other comfort women monuments
File:HK 中環 Central 交易廣場 Exchange Square sculpture 慰安婦少女銅像 Comfort Women Statues January 2020 SS2.jpg
The first Peace Statue was erected in 2011 in front of the Japanese Embassy in Seoul.{{Cite web |author=Rainer Werning |url=https://www.jungewelt.de/m/artikel/307351.das-leid-der-trostfrauen.html |title=Das Leid der »Trostfrauen« |work=junge Welt |date=March 17, 2017 |access-date=March 17, 2017}} Similar monuments can be found worldwide, including in the US, Canada, Australia, Hong Kong, the Philippines, and Germany. The first monument dedicated to "comfort women" has stood in Tateyama (Chiba), Japan, since 1986.{{cite book |author=Reinhard Zöllner |title=Wahrheitseffekte und Widerstreit: Die "Trostfrauen" und ihre Denkmäler |location=Munich |date=2021 |isbn=978-3-86205-221-9 |pages=127–128}}
An initial initiative in Germany failed in 2017 in Freiburg due to Japanese diplomatic resistance.{{Cite web |author=Joachim Röderer |url=https://www.badische-zeitung.de/bronzefigur-loest-diplomatischen-aerger-mit-japan-aus |title=Freiburg: Bronzefigur löst diplomatischen Ärger mit Japan aus |work=Badische Zeitung |date=September 23, 2016 |access-date=September 24, 2016}} The sculpture was subsequently installed in the Nepal-Himalaya Park in Wiesent near Regensburg.{{Cite web |author=Stefan Gruber |url=https://www.mittelbayerische.de/region/regensburg-land/gemeinden/wiesent/trostfrau-mahnt-zum-frieden-21411-art1496089.html |title="Trostfrau" mahnt zum Frieden |work=Mittelbayerische Zeitung |date=March 12, 2017 |access-date=October 11, 2020 |archive-date=April 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200411150048/https://www.mittelbayerische.de/region/regensburg-land/gemeinden/wiesent/trostfrau-mahnt-zum-frieden-21411-art1496089.html |url-status=dead }} Another monument is located on the grounds of the Korean Evangelical Church in Frankfurt.{{Cite web |author=Dorothea Mladenova |url=https://japanologie.gko.uni-leipzig.de/news/was-bedeutet-es-eigentlich-dass-in-berlin-eine-friedensstatue-in-form-einer-trostfrau-aufgestellt-wurde/ |title=Was bedeutet es eigentlich, dass in Berlin eine Friedensstatue in Form einer "Trostfrau" aufgestellt wurde? |publisher=Japanologie Leipzig |date=October 5, 2020 |access-date=October 11, 2020}}{{Cite web |author=(dpa/bb) |url=https://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/demonstrationen-berlin-friedensstatue-in-moabit-darf-vorerst-bleiben-dpa.urn-newsml-dpa-com-20090101-201013-99-927771 |title=Demonstration gegen Entfernung einer Friedensstatue |work=Süddeutsche Zeitung |date=13 October 2020 |access-date=October 13, 2020}} Since July 8, 2022, another Peace Statue has been located in the campus garden of the University of Kassel.{{Cite web |url=http://world.kbs.co.kr/service/news_view.htm?lang=g&Seq_Code=91988 |title=Friedensstatue auf Campus der Universität Kassel dauerhaft aufgestellt |access-date=July 18, 2022}}
External links
{{Commons category|Statue of Peace (Berlin)|Peace Statue}}
- Korea Verband: {{Cite web |url=https://www.koreaverband.de/blog/2020/09/28/friedensstatue-berlin/ |title=Für den Frieden! Gegen sexualisierte Gewalt! Die Friedensstatue in Berlin |work=koreaverband.de |publisher=Korea Verband |date=September 28, 2020 |access-date=October 11, 2020}}
- [https://www.koreaverband.de/trostfrauen/friedensstatue/ Description of the symbolism of the statue.] In: koreaverband.de, accessed on October 15, 2020
- Japanologie Leipzig, Dorothea Mladenova: [https://japanologie.gko.uni-leipzig.de/news/was-bedeutet-es-eigentlich-dass-in-berlin-eine-friedensstatue-in-form-einer-trostfrau-aufgestellt-wurde/ What does it actually mean that a Peace Statue in the form of a "comfort woman" was erected in Berlin?] In: japanologie.gko.uni-leipzig.de, accessed on October 15, 2020
- Lee Woo-young: [https://kpopherald.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=201603031719352657027_2 ‘Comfort women’ statues magnet for Koreans.] In: The Korea Herald. March 3, 2016
References
{{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Peace, Statue}}
{{coord|52.532858|13.339372|region:DE-BE_type:landmark|display=title}}
Category:Monuments and memorials in Berlin
Category:Peace monuments and memorials
Category:Monuments and memorials to comfort women
Category:Sculptures in Germany
Category:Germany–Japan relations
Category:Germany–South Korea relations