Dr. Jung Tae-gi, director of Gimhae Seoul E.N.T. Hospital.
GIMHAE, South Korea, Feb. 28 (Korea Bizwire) – A comfort woman statue was erected on Monday in an otolaryngology (ear-nose-and-throat) clinic in Gimhae, marking the first time that a monument of the sort has been set up indoors, and funded entirely by an individual, hospital director Jung Tae-gi.
The 13-million-won ($11,473) statue resembles most of the other comfort woman statues, depicting a girl wearing a hanbok, the traditional Korean dress. But the girl is clenching her right fist while opening her left, which, according to sculptor Byun Jae-bong, represents both anger, and forgiveness and reconciliation.
At the base of the statue are footprints of military boots depicting the human rights violations carried out by the Japanese military.
“Only a sincere apology and self-reflection can turn the rage of these young girls into forgiveness and reconciliation,” said Byun.
Image Credit: Yonhap / photonews@koreabizwire.com
