- 14 Mar 2002
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A pair of new statues in the Korea Botanical Garden in Pyeongchang adds new fuel to the tensions surrounding the issue of comfort women. The sculptures depict a sitting girl symbolising the victims of sexual slavery by Japan's wartime military and a man kneeling in front of her, obviously begging for forgiveness. The man appears to bear a striking resemblance to PM Abe, so much so that Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga warned it would "decisively impact" ties between the countries.
Unfortunately, I couldn't find any close-ups of the male statue's face.
To me, it's pretty obvious what many Koreans would like to see, even after all those decades: a symbolic act, such as this one:
Japan warns new 'comfort women' statue may hurt ties with South Korea
A recently erected statue of a man resembling Prime Minister Shinzo Abe who is depicted on his knees and bowing to a girl symbolizing South Korean 'comfort women' could further hurt bilateral relations, Japan's top government spokesman said Tuesday.
www.japantimes.co.jp
Unfortunately, I couldn't find any close-ups of the male statue's face.
Kim Chang-ryeol, owner of a botanic garden in the mountain town of Pyeongchang, told The Associated Press on Tuesday that he cancelled an unveiling ceremony for the bronze statues that was to take place on Aug. 10 because of what he described as unwanted controversy. "The man could be Abe and also couldn't be Abe," said Kim, who will continue to keep the statue at his garden. "The man represents anyone in a position of responsibility who could sincerely apologize to the victims of sexual slavery, now or in the future. It could even be the girl's father. ... That's why I named the statues 'Eternal Atonement.'''
To me, it's pretty obvious what many Koreans would like to see, even after all those decades: a symbolic act, such as this one: