Korean singer-actor Kim Dong-wan donates to ‘comfort women’

Posted on January 31, 2013 by Ida Torres in Entertainment with 7 Comments
Korean singer-actor Kim Dong-wan donates to ‘comfort women’

Popular South Korean actor and singer Kim Dong-wan donated 30 million Won (US$27,500) to the surviving elderly Korean women who were forced into sexual slavery during World War II. The donation was made through the Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) show Love Request, according to the statement made last January 25 by Liveworks Company, Kim’s agency.

“Comfort women” is the term used to refer to women from Korea, China, and the Philippines who were forced to work as sex slaves during the Japanese occupation in the Second World War. The Korean government as well as non-government organizations have repeatedly demanded a formal apology from the Japanese government, who has flip-flopped on the issue and has been giving ambiguous signals, depending on the ruling political party. There are now only 58 surviving “comfort women” in Korea and they have not given up in reminding people about their plight. They still participate in regular demonstrations outside the Japanese embassy in South Korea.

According to Love Request producers, Kim said that he hopes the remaining survivors will be able to receive a sincere apology while they are still alive. Officials from the Liveworks Company said that they hope the donation from Kim, who is a member of the Shinhwa idol group and who stars in the television drama “Cheer Up! Mr Kim”, will attract more attention to the cause. Kim has made other donations through the KBS show, now totalling 100 million Won (US$91,800). His first donation was 10 million Won (US$9,200) in 2003 for the victims of the Daegu subway arson that killed nearly 200 people.

[ via Asia One ]
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  • Far East

    It is always good to take care of the elderly anyway.

That being said let me comment on the sentence “According to Love Request producers, Kim said that he hopes the remaining survivors will be able to receive a sincere apology while they are still alive.”

Well, maybe they were deaf or something because it is a fact that the Japanese Government has profusely and sincerely apologized.

See here for more information on this : http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/women/fund/pmletter.html

    and here : http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/q_a/faq16.html#q5

    and here for the background that is not told obviously to the Korean people :

    http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/postwar/issue9308.html

    Now, South Korea like to keep pushing this for domestic politics or to entertain some petty nationalistic sentiments, but that’s a different issue.

    Cheers,

    • Banlas

      Every country in Asia is angry with Japan lack of remorse over its murderous crimes against humanity. Now Japan is tantalizing with its military buildup in its misguided attempt to regain its brutal militant power, with the help of the murderous U.S regime.
      It appeared that Japan needs another few bombs to end the destiny of its life.

      • Far East

        “Lack of remorse” ??
        You’ve got to be a Chinese Government agent (one the thousands that plague and scout the web) to say such a nonsense. Of course they have shown repeatedly regrets and expressed it a t multiple occasion.
        Anyway, see here for more objective information on this : http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/women/fund/pmletter.html
        and here : http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/q_a/faq16.html#q5
        and here for the background that is not told obviously to the Korean people :
        http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/postwar/issue9308.html

        “Japan is tantalizing with its military buildup”
        Now you’re talking about China here. I assume you just made a typo :-)
        “It appeared that Japan needs another few bombs to end the destiny of its life.”
        Wao ! I feel sorry for you as a human being to have such a desire. No human being whoever deserve such horror. You should go to one of your re-education camp to reflect on that a little bit….

        • Dan

          The problem is that one apology by some Japanese was always followed by 10 reversing words/acts by other Japanese. Mr. Abe’s behavior and wordings are good examples of ‘other Japanese”.

          • Far East

            I am neither Japanese nor Korean, but know fairly well both culture and from where I am standing it is more like some South Korean will never be satisfied anyhow.
            Maybe someday, hopefully, those Koreans will understand it is in their interest to look forward and not backward.

          • Whirled Peas

            I’ve posted another version of this in a different thread:

            Please note that an official apology was made by Prime Minister Murayama Aug 31 1994 following up by the establishment of the Asian Womens Fund, an organization that lasted 1995-2007. The Japanese gov’t used 480 million yen to set up the organization to administer the compensation, and engage in other women-oriented projects.Everyone was enthusiastic. As I understand it, Korean comfort women were identified, and the plan was to present them with individual apologies as well as money. In a nutshell, many (but not all) refused under pressure by some activist group because: (1) the written apology was signed by the Prime Minister but wasn’t to be delivered personally by him but instead in a AWF ceremony; (2) the money came from donations by Japanese citizens who wanted to participate personally in atonement, and they thought it should come directly from the gov’t. There are more gory details but too much to go into.The gov’t, staff, and donors to AWF were saddened by that response.

            Many Japanese citizens wrote messages to the comfort women with their donation. Here are some examples:

            - Believing that actions are more important than words, I have made this small contribution.

            - I would like to express my heartfelt apologies to the women who were forced to lead miserable lives as comfort women. I pray that they will find peace and happiness in the future. I cannot help much. However, if there is any volunteer work that I can do for two hours a day at home, please do not hesitate to ask me. I sincerely hope that you
            will give atonement to them as soon as possible.

            - I have waited for a fund like the Asian Women’s Fund. It will help to relieve the burden in my heart that I feel as a Japanese citizen. I am very glad that the Fund has been established.

            - I was only a child during the war, but when I later learned of the comfort women and tried to imagine their humiliation, I trembled with rage at the Japanese troops who carried out this inhumane scheme. I believe that each Japanese citizen should make amends for this crime on an individual basis. In my view, the Asian Women’s Fund is a meaningful
            and concrete step towards accomplishing this task.

            Best, WP

      • Observer

        This guy seems to be one of the pro CN in global times CN. He is just throwing out of hatred toward JP and they are all sbout ww II to spread fear to Asia. He will never accept the fact that the modern and young generations of JP are peaceful people. In the other hand, CN is currently in the opposite way: greedy, aggressive and warmonger. If CN didn’t change she would destroyed her own country soon or later.