Statue of Peace

This is a statue of a girl.

She sits in a quiet place. She wears a long, traditional dress. She has short hair and small hands.

This statue helps us remember hard times. It honors women from a long time ago. People made it to ask for an apology.

Many people want the statue to stay. Others want it to be moved. It is a symbol of peace for many.

There are other statues like this one. They are in many lands around the world. They help people remember and feel together.

The Statue of Peace is a bronze statue of a girl.

In Korea, people call it Sonyeosang. This name means "statue of girl." The statue sits in Seoul. She wears a chima jeogori. This is a type of traditional dress called a hanbok. She has short hair and small hands. She sits and looks toward the Japanese embassy.

This statue honors women from a hard time in history. During World War II, the Japanese military used women for sexual slavery. People call these women comfort women. A group called the Korean Council proposed the statue. They wanted to remember the pain of these women. They also wanted an apology from the Japanese government.

Many people have strong feelings about the statue. Japan has asked for it to be moved. The victims and the city of Seoul want it to stay. There are other statues like this one in many places. One is in San Francisco. Another is in Glendale, California. Some are even in Italy. These statues help people remember history and seek peace.

The Statue of Peace is a very important memorial. People call it Sonyeosang in Korean. In Japanese, it is called Shōjo-zō. Both names mean "statue of girl." This bronze statue honors victims of sexual slavery. These women were used by the Japanese military. This happened during the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II. The statue helps people remember their pain. It asks for an apology and respect for the victims.

The statue has a very specific look. It was designed by Kim Seo-kyung and Kim Eun-sung. The girl wears a chima jeogori. This is a type of hanbok dress from the late 19th century. She has short hair and small hands. The girl sits and stares at the Japanese embassy in Seoul. This pose is meant to show her feelings. She sits in a way that makes people think about history.

This memorial began with a long history of protest. Wednesday demonstrations started in 1992. Later, the Korean Council for Women proposed a stone memorial. They wanted to honor the comfort women. The bronze statue was finally installed on 14 December 2011. It stands in front of the Japanese embassy in central Seoul. This was a big step for the group. They wanted a place to commemorate the victims' lives.

Many different countries have talked about the statue. In 2015, South Korea and Japan made an agreement. Japan wanted the statue removed from Seoul. They said they would not pay 1 billion yen in compensation without this. South Korea did not promise to move it. Later, South Korea ended the agreement in November 2018. This led to many difficult talks between the two lands. The statue has also faced damage in the past.

Today, you can find many versions of this statue. They are in cities with many Korean people. A memorial was unveiled in San Francisco in September 2017. There is also a statue in Glendale, California. It was built in 2013 by a group called the Korean American Forum of California. Other small memorials exist in New Jersey and even Italy. These statues connect people to a shared history. They help keep the memory of the victims alive everywhere.

The Statue of Peace is a powerful memorial for victims of sexual slavery. These victims are often called "comfort women" by historians. This occurred under the Japanese military during World War II. Specifically, it happened during the Second Sino-Japanese War and the Pacific War. The statue serves as a symbol to honor these women. It also urges the Japanese government to offer a formal apology. In Korea, it is known as Sonyeosang. In Japanese, it is called Shōjo-zō. Both names literally mean "statue of girl."

The statue was designed by a couple named Kim Seo-kyung and Kim Eun-sung. It features a young girl sitting in a specific pose. She wears a chima jeogori, which is a modified hanbok from the late 19th or early 20th century. The girl has short hair and small hands. She is positioned to stare directly at the Japanese embassy in central Seoul. This design is meant to represent the experiences of the victims. The statue's physical details help tell a story of history and pain.

The movement to create this memorial grew from long-term activism. Wednesday demonstrations first began in 1992. Nearly 20 years later, the Korean Council for Women Drafted for Military Sexual Slavery by Japan proposed a memorial. They suggested a stone monument in front of the Japanese embassy in Seoul. This proposal became a reality on 14 December 2011. On that date, the bronze statue was finally installed. This site has since become a center for many representational battles.

Diplomatic relations between South Korea and Japan have been affected by the statue. In 2015, the two nations reached an agreement to settle the issue. Japan expressed concern regarding the statue in Seoul. As part of the deal, South Korea committed to solving the issue appropriately. However, the South Korean government never explicitly promised to remove the statue. In December 2015, Japan stated it would withhold ¥1 billion in compensation. They argued the statue should be removed based on the agreement.

These disagreements led to further political changes. After the 2015 dispute, a second statue was erected in Busan. Japan responded by recalling two diplomats from South Korea. This action halted high-level talks between the nations. In November 2018, South Korea terminated the 2015 agreement. They also shut down the Japanese-funded foundation intended for the settlement. Japan continues to maintain that the agreement remains legally binding. They argue the placement of the statue is illegal.

The statue has inspired many other monuments around the world. In September 2017, San Francisco unveiled its first major memorial. This event caused Osaka, Japan, to end its sister-city relationship. In New Jersey, a brass plaque was dedicated in 2010 in Palisades Park. Another memorial was announced in Hackensack in 2012. That site sits alongside memorials for the Holocaust and the Armenian genocide. In 2013, the Korean American Forum of California built the Peace Monument of Glendale. This monument is an exact replica of the original.

Local communities sometimes struggle with where to place these memorials. In July 2021, Aurora, Colorado, voted against a proposal for the statue. City staff noted the memorials often attract many different responses. These can include peaceful events or legal actions for removal. In Italy, a replica in Stintino caused tension with far-right figures. These figures sent threatening messages to the local government. These various reactions show how deeply the statue connects to global history and modern politics.