Why We Fight, Korea VS Japan: What Shinzo Abe wants the World to Forget

“Koreans are below us, they need to be ruled, or else they go crazy.”

Introduction: The usual story.

It has been some time since outsiders have taken my hometown. They beat my neighbours, right in front of my house. They spear my friends in the square with bamboo. They slap my mother across the cheek and physically insult her. They think they’re above us. I am very afraid. My father and my uncle are in Ilbon. I wonder how they are doing? They said they would be paid really well if they got jobs in the factories in Ilbon.

Look down, look down. Don’t look them in the eye.

There are only more and more Ilbon soldiers coming to Choseon. We don’t even go out into the street anymore. A house on my street got burned down, and the family speared in the street. Apparently, they said they didn't like what Japan was doing to Choseon. My closest friend Chun Bok went to be a nurse in Ilbon. I am only 11 right now, but I want to be a nurse too. That way I can earn lots of money and help my family because we are starving right now, but my mother doesn’t want me to go.

Look down, look down, you’re here until you die.

My birthday was only a week ago, and now I think I’m ready to be a nurse. They call for women to be nurses often, I’ll do it then. At least I get to save people’s lives and get to support my family too.

I am going to be a nurse now! I am on a boat going to Ilbon, I don’t like that I have to treat Ilbon soldiers, the ones who kill my friends, and neighbours, but at least I am saving lives and not taking them. The boat will arrive in Ilbon soon.

They took my childhood in a stride.

Kim Hak Chun didn’t become a nurse. She is but one of the hundreds of thousands of “comfort women,” even as young as 9 years old.

Comfort Women

During the years of 1910-1945, Imperial Japan tricked and abducted an estimated 600,000 women and forced them to work in Army Brothels with no pay and bad living conditions. They used the euphemism "comfort women" to put silk over the corpse. These women were treated less than human. This leads to a concept called “Dehumanization” which can be contextualized in the play Les Miserables.

In the opening sequence, Javert (the prison labour supervisor) calls the main character only by his number, 24601, which is meant to make him feel as though he is just a machine, a working slave who is merely a tool. This is what happened to these women. Not only were these women forced into performing sexual acts against their will, but were also forced into procedures that violated their bodily autonomy even further, such as being forced into sterilization, abortion, and the injection of compound 606, even being force-fed induced miscarriage pills. When they were ill or severely injured due to the abuse they were subjected to, they were simply isolated, left to die alone, like a discarded object. These women were quite literally treated like sexual objects, mere tools of pleasure, machines to be utilized. This is not just a political issue, it is a human rights issue which Japan has yet to acknowledge.

Last year the South Korean High Court in Seoul, the capital, ruled that Japanese firms should pay compensation to Korean forced labour workers and the victims of sexual slavery, around 80,000 dollars per person.

The Court ordered the corporations such as Mitsubishi to pay reparations because the foundation of their success is the blood, sweat, and bitter tears of forced labour. However, the Japanese government has refused to provide a proper apology to the victims for the past crimes that Japan has committed, claiming that it is an issue that has already been resolved.

Compensation

What Shinzo Abe is referring to is a meeting which he had with past President Park Geun Hye a couple of years ago in 2015. The one and only infamous “Impeached because she sank the Sewol Ferry killing 400 children” president.

"Aye Tang, tell 'im yer crazy psycho woman president story again eh!" my Bagpipe instructor would say anytime someone new walked in the door. He simply couldn't believe that something like that could happen. "It's like the Loch Ness I tell ya!"

Obviously, this woman has no credibility whatsoever with even her own people, seeing as how millions of people came out to protest her presidency, eventually leading to her impeachment. She was sentenced to 24 years in prison with a fine of about 110 million USD, straight from the President, to a criminal convicted of 16 charges out of 18 against her. She took bribes from many people, to think that she wouldn't have taken any from Japan is an abstract idea.

In 2015 the Japanese government apologized and provided 9 million USD to the cause. In 2018 however, this was deemed severely lacking in compensating the survivors because the money came with fine print.

“Please remove all Peace Statues remembering the Comfort Women,” Shinzo Abe asked President Moon in February of 2018. This is widely seen as an attempt to alter history. Very recently last month, the government closed an art exhibit by threatening them, which was showcasing the Peace Statue, a statue of two chairs, one girl in Korean Hanbok sitting on the right, representing all the comfort women war crime victims. This move was protested by the Japanese people.

"Why are you repressing information? Shinzo Abe has always been a little weird, but as of late, the government has gotten even weirder! Let's bring Abe down!"

Artists around the world have also protested this choice by taking their own pictures with two chairs while sitting on one of them.

“This issue cannot be simply dealt with by governments alone, we must work together to heal their wounds together,” he said.

Money probably has little effect when it comes to healing 80+ years of trauma and a broken heart.

If your girlfriend is angry, are you able to get her to love you by throwing money at her?

“Here’s $100 dollars, so stop being angry.” If you go with this plan, you need to sit down and rethink what this person means to you, because this kind of garbage attitude is very humanly indecent.

“You’re shallow enough to win you over with this money, right? Just keep doing what you usually do.” Dehumanizing.

This is what is being seen in the actions of the Japanese Government

“I’ll give you money so stop being mad. Why don’t we just forget this ever happened? We can do that right? Now that we’ve had the transaction let’s bury the hatchet.” It is a shallow gesture in all cultures of the world.

A mere couple of days after the ruling came out, the Japanese Government tightened the regulations on 3 key parts of making Electronics. Fluorinated polyimide, resist, and hydrogen fluoride. These three parts are crucial for making electronics, which is Korea’s main export, and without these ingredients, big Korean Companies such as Samsung and SK Hynix would be in big trouble. This is seen as a calculated political pressure, seeing as how the decision came only 3 days after Japan decided to take South Korea to The International Court of Justice because of the high court ruling. Korea rejected the Third Party arbitration offer.

Red Flags

The reason is this. When a previous oppressor tries to control you through restricting 3 crucial ingredients to your main export to get you to go to court, what is an appropriate response? To the Korean people, this attempt to coerce our country was a major red flag because we know what comes next, we have people to tell us what has happened before. Japan seems to be very confident about going to the ICJ. Confidence is brought about when one is sure they will succeed. Japan likely has a trick up its sleeve, an ace in the hole. If it is going to be anything like imperial Japan, it would most likely be backdoor money being delivered to folks over at the ICJ, which is not to insult the ICJ in any way, it is simply how they took over Korea in 1910.

However, Korea has found an alternate source for all three of these resources and has now come one step closer to becoming independent from Japan once and for all, without seeing as much of a detriment as Korea would have if these resources were unable to be found elsewhere. Japan has drawn the short straw, however, because Japan has no alternate source for what Korea exports to Japan. DRAM and OLED panels. Now Japan cannot produce the SONY Playstation because of the DRAM, and can no longer make OLED monitor TVs if Korea retaliates in a similar way. However, Japan was sneaky in their planning. They ordered a couple of years' worth of these parts in advance, just before their restrictions to polyimide, resist, and hydrogen fluoride export to Korea. Korean citizens are calling for the companies to give them their money back, and to keep the products in Korea, but we have yet to see what will happen.

Since then, Korea has stopped exporting all electronics that Japan is dependent on Korea as a show of protest, such as DRAM chips, which Korea supplies 70% of worldwide, and as retaliation Japan removed Korea from their trades whitelist, despite being warned by the Korean government that such a move will be detrimental to the ties between the countries. This was seen as the act which sparked the start of the “Zero Force War.”

The Korean people took all these things into account and the consensus was this. “If we go to the International Court of Justice, we will lose, and Japan will have won the Second Cold War. It's like losing our country all over again.” And so, without any government organized agendas, the Korean people took to the internet and were able to find a plan.

Shinzo Abe

But why is Shinzo Abe so obstinate about these issues? According to my interpersonal expertise, my theory is this:

Shinzo Abe idolizes Imperial Japan.

Why wouldn't he? His government is built on the idea of "Strong Japan," and the Imperial era was the societal and economic peak of "Strong Japan." They occupied over 20 other territories and were dripping with power. Imperialists argue that "Rape is just a part of the war. It's just how it is." Shinzo Abe doesn't apologize because he isn't sorry. He thinks it's just a part of gaining power. "What could be bad about that?"

Protests

“NO 아배! 가지 않습니다, 사지 않습니다.”

“NO (Shinzo) Abe! We do not go, We do not buy.”

What this basically means is that the Korean people will not buy Japanese products, and the Korean people will not go to Japan on vacation. This is to protest Shinzo Abe’s government agenda and practices and to make him sorely regret his decision to provoke the sleeping White Tiger. When the Seoul Government attempted to put up banners around the city with the “NO 아배!” message on lamp posts, they were under heavy criticism from the Korean people. The criticism came because this protest is citizen-driven, and any government involvement would ruin the sentiment of citizens acting separately from the government. It’s a show of force that the Korean people are not sheeple, and will stand up to any oppressors, government or otherwise.

This plan's main goal is to hit Japan where it hurts most: The Olympics.

Koreans make up 80% of Japanese tourism, and if your tourism rates drop by 80%, you don't have money. If you don't have enough money to host the Olympics well, you lose money. Of course, we hope the Olympics will go well, but this is sure to get Abe's attention, which is the main goal.

I personally love it when the whole country gets together to do something fun, like when the candlelight protests got Park Geun Hye impeached, but there is one drawback. Sometimes people may mistake the government as synonymous with the people, but I believe the Japanese people are victims too. Shinzo Abe has an iron fist on the free press, and so the propaganda that he sends out is the only media the citizens can get. They are deprived of the information they crucially need. Does it remind you of anyone else? maybe someone in the "North"? This can be seen through the number of Journalists, Anchors, and Reporters that have been sacked or killed “mysteriously” since Abe's government came into power. This is rather unfortunate.

What I wish to clarify is this:

These protests are not “Anti-Japanese,” it is “Anti-Abe.” We have nothing against the Japanese people, it is the government we protest. We appreciate that the 200 Japanese protestors in Shinjuku decided to stand up to Abe as well, however, there are many "Anti-Korean" groups in Japan at work. I see that there are also "Anti-Hate" groups in Japan fighting those groups.

You have our gratitude.

To Shinzo Abe:

Do you hear the people sing? Singing the song of angry men.

It’s time to quit this game of deceiving your people and smudging history.

It’s time to stop. The facts are all here, and we don't know who you hope to deceive, but it will all come down very soon, just as a game of "Jumbling Tower" must also come to an end sometime, but when it does, you will know pain.

Please take the path of peace since we don't quite have enough nowadays, but until then...

“NO 아배! 가지 않습니다, 사지 않습니다.”

Aftermath

The frustration, anger, sorrow, shame, and trauma that these women have carried with them, and still carry with them to this day is something that mustn’t be forgotten, ever. If we forget, what’s going to stop it from happening again?

Even at the age of 70 years old, survivor Kim Hak Soon wells up in tears as she relives her past on the stage in 1991.

"Literally a young girl, being raped like that... that cruelty... I can't even speak."

Forgive? When the proper procedures have been dealt with.

Forget? NEVER.

We cannot forget.

We must never forget.

This is the music of the people who will not be slaves again.

These inhuman atrocities were not only committed against Korean women, but Dutch, Filipina, Chinese, and many other ethnic groups around the world. The majority of those forced into any kind of labour, however, was made up of Korean people, most likely due to Korea being the closest country to Japan.

Korea physically cannot forget, because the effects of Japanese oppression are still prevalent in Korean society today. The victims of oppression are still alive to tell the story. My own Grandparents were victims of Japanese oppression. They were banned from speaking Korean, given Japanese names, and forced to conform to Japanese societal practices.

You’ll always be a slave.

This badge of shame you’ll show until you die.

Yes, 24601.

There are some media companies that describe this conflict as a “Spat” or a “Lose-lose fight.” This is not true. A spat is defined as “a brief petty quarrel or angry outburst.” To call such important humanitarian, women’s rights, and impactful issues a “spat” is the utmost insult to the cause. Secondly, yes, this may be a lose-lose fight for now, but it is the best way to go for the long term. Korea has the upper hand.

Through this show of protest, Korea can accomplish many things. Firstly, Koreans show Japan (a previous oppressor), that Korea will never be oppressed again so easily. Secondly, it shows that the Korean people can come together in a national emergency. And lastly, it shows that corruption will not be tolerated in the modern world.

Do you hear the people sing?

But Japan is not the only country to blame. Japan’s war crimes are no secret in South Korea, but due to the typical meddlings of the USA, there was a mass cover-up of information in exchange of the information gathered from the inhumane medical experiments of the Japanese during this time of oppression. Because of this, many young North Americans are oblivious to the fact that these atrocities happened.

"I am appalled. Why aren't people talking about this?"

"I have never heard this before. Wow... That's a really terrible thing to do."

"I'm speechless, really, just. How can people do that?"

These are the real responses I got when I told various teenagers, aged 15-20 about this issue. It's not as well known or talked about as it should be. The victims of these war crimes are still alive, it is still a very relevant issue.

But what's most important is how we, here in North America, actually deal with the situation. I don’t have the answer to what YOU should do, but as a journalist with intentions to share the truth I have but one question:

Will you join in the fight that will give you the right to be free?

In the play Les Miserables, the main character has a moment of rebellion against Javert.

Yes, 24601.

My name is Jean Valjean.

It’s when he humanizes himself and shows that he is more than just a number. His namehumanizes him.

Survivors

My Name Is...

Jung Bok Soo

Park Ok Sun

Lee Ok Sun

Kang Il Chul

Lee yong Soo

Im Jung Soon

Ha Soo Im

Lee Ok Sun

Song Shin Do

Kim Hak Soon

Survivors Who Have Since Passed Away

My name is:

Kang (Unknown)

Kang Duk Kyung

Kang Do Ah

Kang Soon Ea

Kwak Ye Nam

Gil Won Ok

Kim Kun Ja

Kim Kye Soon

Kim Kye Hwa

Kim Bok Dong

Kim Bok Sun

Kim Boon Sun

Kim Sang Hee

Kim Sun Yi

Kim Sung Joo

Kim Soon Duk

Kim Soon Ak

Kim Soon Ok

Kim Yo Ji

Kim Ooh Myung Dal

Kim Yi Kyung : China

Kim Eul Rye

Kim Jung Soon

Kim Jung Joo

Kim Hwa Sun

No Myung Sun : Taiwan

No Soo Bok : Thailand

No Chung Ja

Moon Ok Ju

Moon Pil ki

Moon Pil Ji

Park (Unknown)

Park Dea Im

Park Doo Ri

Park Bok Soon

Park Boon Yi

Park Seo Un

Park Sook Yi

Park Ok Ryun

Park Wi Nam

Park Pil Goon

Park Hae Ok

Bea Bong Ki : Lived in Japan

Bae Chun Hee

Seo Bong Im

Shim Mi Ja

Shim Dal Yeon

An Geum Ok

An Jeom Soon

An Hee Soo

Yang Geum Duk

Yoo Chan Yi

Yoon geum Rye

Yoon doo Ri

Lee Gwui Nyeo

Lee Gwui Boon

Lee Nam Yi : Cambodia

Lee Dong Ryung

Lee Doo Soon

Lee Bok Soon

Lee Soo Dan : China

Lee Soo Deok

Lee ok Boon

Lee Yong Nyeo

Lee Jeom Rye

Im Jung Ja

Jeon Ok Nam

Jung Do In

Jung Seo Un : First victim to come forward as witness.

Jung Yoon Hong

Choi Seon Soon

Ha Sang Sook

Han do Soon

Han Ok Seon

Hwang Geum Ja

Hwang Geum Joo

Hwang Sun Soon

Hwang Ok Im

Registered Netherland Survivors

My name is:

Jan Ruff-O'Herne

Ellen van der Ploeg

Democratic People’s Republic of Korea Survivors

My name is:

Kwag Geum Nyeo

Kim Dae Il

Kim Yeong Sook

Kim Yeong Shil

Lee Kyung Seng

Lee Kye Ok

Lee Bok Nyeo

Lee Sang Ok

Park Young Shim Yoo Sang Ok

Park Young Shim

Yoo Seon Ok

Jung Ok Soon

Japanese Victim

My name is:

Shirota Tsuzuko

Victims:

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…

Unknown, but never forgotten. We mustn’t forget. We cannot forget.

We are the New Generation, let us stop the ongoing atrocities, and prevent such atrocities from ever happening again.

“Spat” users: Japan Times, CNN, NPR, CGTN

Japan Times is owned by Japan.

“Lose-Lose fight” users: Nikkei, DBS, Japan Times, Financial Times,

Nikkei is owned by Japan.

This is the reality of censored press media.

http://www.hermuseum.go.kr/

https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/japan-pm-abe-tells-south-koreas-moon-that-2015-comfort-women-deal-is-final

https://www.archives.gov/files/iwg/japanese-war-crimes/introductory-essays.pdf

https://www.zdnet.com/article/samsung-to-prepare-contingency-plan-for-korea-japan-trade-scuffle/

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-02-17/jan-ruff-oherne-comfort-woman-wwii-japanese-government-apology/7174174

https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3022854/japanese-pm-shinzo-abe-sends-offering-controversial-yasukuni

https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2019/05/24/shinzo-abe-trump-japan-226985