On October 7, at 1:00 pm, the Korean Council and two major trade unions met with German Ambassador George Schmidt to discuss the maintenance of the Statue of Peace "ari" in Berlin. The attendees were Jeong Yeon-sil, Standing vice Chairperson of the Korean Federation of Trade Unions (hereinafter F.K.T.U), Ham Jae-kyu, Vice Chairperson of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (hereinafter KCTU), Lee Na-young, the Chairperson of the Korean Council, as well as activists from each organization.
Lee, the Chairperson of the Korean Council, had already visited the German Embassy twice before, on October 14, 2020, and on May 22, 2024, with Lee Yong-soo, the victim-survivor. Lee asked the Ambassador if he had received the handwritten letter of the victim-survivor and citizens' statement that she delivered at that time, and the Ambassador replied that he thought it was for the German government and not the Embassy. Thus, he would deliver it well, including today's meeting.
Lee explained that the Statue of Peace is a symbol of strength for women who were victims of wartime sexual violence in other countries and a sign of citizens' determination to prevent future horrific wars and that it also means a lot to German women because it reminds them that German women were also victims of sexual violence by the Allies and Russia, during World War 2. However, she is deeply concerned that the statue may be removed due to the current pressure from the Japanese government. In late July, 2,216 residents of Berlin's Mitte district submitted a signed petition to the Mitte district council to "Save the Satue of Peace," and more than 43,600 citizens from around the world have signed a petition to put the issue on the federal government's agenda. If the statue were to be removed despite these demands, the respect that Koreans have for Germany and the trust that Germany has shown them would be shaken. Against Japan, which continues to deny its history despite numerous recommendations from the UN CEDAW, EU resolutions, etc., demanding a sincere apology to the victims, Korean citizens appealed that they would do everything they could, including memorials, and that they were with sincere hope of preventing the removal of the statue.
Jeong, the Standing vice Chairperson of the F.K.T.U., said that the February 2018 report of the ILO Committee of Experts expressed concern about the lack of concrete measures the Japanese government took to resolve the issue. She also stated that she would continue her solidarity with the German Trade Union and the International Union Confederation to resolve the issue of the history of forced mobilization and removal of the statue.
Ham, the Vice Chairperson of KCTU, reminded the Ambassador that the statue was forcibly removed by the University of Kassel in Germany last year March and emphasized that the solidarity of our workers can surpass even the solidarity of nations, so we do not want this issue to escalate. He also requested that the Ambassador make sure to convey the opinions of Korean civil society organizations and trade unions to Germany for feedback. Lee also pointed out that the survivor of the victim, who had visited the Embassy twice in the past, said that she had not heard back from the Ambassador about how opinions were conveyed.
The German Ambassador said that according to the law, it is not the federal government's or the city's decision to establish, remove, extend, or permit the statue but rather the districts and that they need to reach a consensus on what many people as possible want.
Lee expressed her concern that if it is so independent, why Mayor Kai Wegner issued a press release on May 16 to announce the removal of the statue, and the next day, on May 17, an article appeared about Mitsubishi investing in the development of a smart city in Berlin, which is not independent at all. Korean citizens and scholars also expressed their disappointment in Germany, saying they believe the situation is only a matter of the Mitte district office.
The participants concluded the meeting by requesting that the Embassy do everything it can to ensure that the statue remains a symbol of peace and reconciliation, as it is a universal symbol of wartime sexual violence. The Korean Council will continue to do everything it can to ensure the Statue of Peace "Ari" in Berlin, Germany, remains a symbol of peace and reconciliation.
On October 7, at 1:00 pm, the Korean Council and two major trade unions met with German Ambassador George Schmidt to discuss the maintenance of the Statue of Peace "ari" in Berlin. The attendees were Jeong Yeon-sil, Standing vice Chairperson of the Korean Federation of Trade Unions (hereinafter F.K.T.U), Ham Jae-kyu, Vice Chairperson of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (hereinafter KCTU), Lee Na-young, the Chairperson of the Korean Council, as well as activists from each organization.
Lee, the Chairperson of the Korean Council, had already visited the German Embassy twice before, on October 14, 2020, and on May 22, 2024, with Lee Yong-soo, the victim-survivor. Lee asked the Ambassador if he had received the handwritten letter of the victim-survivor and citizens' statement that she delivered at that time, and the Ambassador replied that he thought it was for the German government and not the Embassy. Thus, he would deliver it well, including today's meeting.
Lee explained that the Statue of Peace is a symbol of strength for women who were victims of wartime sexual violence in other countries and a sign of citizens' determination to prevent future horrific wars and that it also means a lot to German women because it reminds them that German women were also victims of sexual violence by the Allies and Russia, during World War 2. However, she is deeply concerned that the statue may be removed due to the current pressure from the Japanese government. In late July, 2,216 residents of Berlin's Mitte district submitted a signed petition to the Mitte district council to "Save the Satue of Peace," and more than 43,600 citizens from around the world have signed a petition to put the issue on the federal government's agenda. If the statue were to be removed despite these demands, the respect that Koreans have for Germany and the trust that Germany has shown them would be shaken. Against Japan, which continues to deny its history despite numerous recommendations from the UN CEDAW, EU resolutions, etc., demanding a sincere apology to the victims, Korean citizens appealed that they would do everything they could, including memorials, and that they were with sincere hope of preventing the removal of the statue.
Jeong, the Standing vice Chairperson of the F.K.T.U., said that the February 2018 report of the ILO Committee of Experts expressed concern about the lack of concrete measures the Japanese government took to resolve the issue. She also stated that she would continue her solidarity with the German Trade Union and the International Union Confederation to resolve the issue of the history of forced mobilization and removal of the statue.
Ham, the Vice Chairperson of KCTU, reminded the Ambassador that the statue was forcibly removed by the University of Kassel in Germany last year March and emphasized that the solidarity of our workers can surpass even the solidarity of nations, so we do not want this issue to escalate. He also requested that the Ambassador make sure to convey the opinions of Korean civil society organizations and trade unions to Germany for feedback. Lee also pointed out that the survivor of the victim, who had visited the Embassy twice in the past, said that she had not heard back from the Ambassador about how opinions were conveyed.
The German Ambassador said that according to the law, it is not the federal government's or the city's decision to establish, remove, extend, or permit the statue but rather the districts and that they need to reach a consensus on what many people as possible want.
Lee expressed her concern that if it is so independent, why Mayor Kai Wegner issued a press release on May 16 to announce the removal of the statue, and the next day, on May 17, an article appeared about Mitsubishi investing in the development of a smart city in Berlin, which is not independent at all. Korean citizens and scholars also expressed their disappointment in Germany, saying they believe the situation is only a matter of the Mitte district office.
The participants concluded the meeting by requesting that the Embassy do everything it can to ensure that the statue remains a symbol of peace and reconciliation, as it is a universal symbol of wartime sexual violence. The Korean Council will continue to do everything it can to ensure the Statue of Peace "Ari" in Berlin, Germany, remains a symbol of peace and reconciliation.