Berlin allows Korean ‘comfort women’ statue to remain, despite anger from Japan
- The statue represents Korean women who were made into sex slaves during Japanese invasion and colonisation
- The Mitte district in the German capital said it hopes to explore a plan for Japan and South Korea to reach a compromise on the display
Reversing an earlier order to remove a statue symbolising Korean women in Japanese wartime military brothels, authorities in central Berlin said on Tuesday they will allow the installation to remain for the time being.
The Mitte district in the German capital said it hopes to explore a plan for Japan and South Korea to reach a compromise on the display. The installation of “comfort women” statues outside South Korea, in addition to those placed near Japanese diplomatic facilities in Seoul and Busan, has been a source of tension between the two Asian countries.
On Thursday, the Mitte district announced it had rescinded approval for the statue erected last month and called for its removal by Wednesday, amid objections from Tokyo.
Following the decision, a pro-South Korean civic group in Berlin lodged a protest with local authorities and filed a petition with a Berlin court to suspend the district order.
02:18
Berlin orders removal of 'comfort women' statue
In South Korea, a group of 113 politicians including lawmakers submitted a letter to the German Embassy in Seoul on Tuesday, expressing regret and concern over the district’s move last week.