A private sculpture that could cause friction between Japan and Korea is causing discussion

A sculpture placed in a botanical garden in South Korea’s Pyeongchang that probably depicts Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe kneeling in front of a female figure, a Korean comfort woman, namely a slave prostitute forced to work for soldiers during World War II, is causing much discussion. Many of these female slaves came from occupied countries, such as Korea, China, and the Philippines.

In 2015, the prime minister had apologized for these acts and promised to create a fund to support victims of wartime abuse.

The sculpture in question, titled Eternal Atonement, was commissioned by Kim Chang-ryeol, owner of the botanical garden.

After news broke of the likeness of the male figure portrayed in the work to the prime minister, Government Secretary General Yoshihide Suga declared that if the sculpture truly represents Shinzo Abe, "it could cause a strong impact on Japan-Korea relations.

The garden’s owner in turn retorted, “Can the government take measures on privately created works of art? Even in Japanese bookstores I see anti-Korea books....” He added in an interview that “the man depicted can be Abe or not; the man depicts any person, who holds a position of responsibility, who sincerely apologizes to the victims of sexual slavery, now as well as in the future.”

However, Kim canceled the public unveiling of the sculpture that was initially scheduled to be held on August 10, but insists that the work remain there, where it is already placed.

A private sculpture that could cause friction between Japan and Korea is causing discussion

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