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Comfort women

Comfort women is a term used for women and girls forced into sexual slavery by Japan before and during World War II.

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All Content on this topic

A statue of a girl symbolizing "comfort women" in Seoul, South Korea

South Korean 'comfort women' lose compensation claim

A South Korean court rejected a lawsuit which ordered Japan to compensate victims forced to work in wartime brothels.
PoliticsApril 21, 2021
Yang Geum-deok

Survivor of forced labor in Japan seeks true apology

In 1944, a young Korean girl was duped into moving to Japan for better education, only to end up working in a factory.
SocietyFebruary 8, 2021
A South Korean advocacy group holds a meeting in Seoul, South Korea

South Korean court orders 'comfort women' compensation

It is the first civilian legal case in South Korea regarding World War II sex slaves for Japanese troops.
SocietyJanuary 8, 2021
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Korean 'comfort women' memorial angers Japan

A memorial to the victims of forced sex work in WWII has sparked controversy and diplomatic tension. Japan wants it axed, but activists are showing resistance.
SocietyOctober 22, 202002:49 min
The memorial covered in flowers and protest pamphlets

Berlin halts demolition of 'comfort women' memorial

A recently unveiled memorial to the victims of forced sex work in WWII has sparked controversy and diplomatic tensions.
HistoryOctober 14, 2020
A statue symbolizing the issue of so-called comfort women forced to work in Japanese wartime brothels is unveiled in Berlin on September 28, 2020

'Comfort woman' statue in Berlin angers Japan

Japan has said a new statute detailing sexual violence against Korean women is out of context and damages relations.
SocietyOctober 1, 2020
Südkorea Pyeongchang Statue knieender Mann

Korean memorial 'resembling' Japan's PM prompts Tokyo rebuke

Japanese officials have condemned a pair of statues commemorating comfort women who were forced into sexual slavery.
PoliticsJuly 28, 2020
Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi (right) and South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha

Japan, South Korea to discuss bilateral tensions next month

The neighbors have agreed to meet in December to end a trade dispute and resolve a spat over their painful wartime past.
PoliticsNovember 23, 2019
South Korean and Japanese flags

Japan and South Korea seek to mend relations

Increasing costs are pushing the two countries to end their trade dispute and disagreement over historical treaties.
PoliticsOctober 22, 2019
A Uniqlo store

Uniqlo pulls controversial clothing ad in South Korea

The Japanese clothing brand pulled an ad over accusations that it mocks South Korean victims of wartime forced labor.
SocietyOctober 22, 2019
A 'comfort woman' statue, one of the art works at an exhibition at the Aichi Triennale in Japan on August 3, 2019

Japan reopens exhibit closed over 'comfort woman' statue

The show, featuring a controversial South Korean statue of a wartime sex slave, was forced to close in early August.
SocietyOctober 8, 2019
Japan Südkorea Trostfrauen Sexsklaven Zweiter Weltkrieg

Fury as Japanese paper redefines 'comfort women'

The Japan Times has provoked anger and accusations of historical revisionism with its decision.
SocietyDecember 5, 2018
"Comfort women" survivors attend protests in 2015

Seoul snubs Tokyo by closing 'comfort women' fund

The foundation is a key element of a deeply unpopular 2015 accord with Japan.
HistoryNovember 21, 2018
South Koreans rally to protest forced labor in 2015

Nippon Steel ordered to pay WWII laborers

The ruling could worsen the already chill ties between Tokyo and Seoul.
CrimeOctober 30, 2018
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe

Abe to attend Olympics despite S. Korea spat

Although Japan's PM said he will attend the event, he wants to "firmly" convey Tokyo's stance on "comfort women."
PoliticsJanuary 24, 2018
People protest in front of Japan's embassy in Seoul

Japan's Abe to snub Winter Olympics invite?

The "comfort women" issue threatens to damage security ties as well as political links between Japan and S. Korea.
SocietyJanuary 12, 2018
Südkorea Protest vor der Japanischen Botschaft in Seoul

'Comfort women' deal to stand?

South Korea seems to have dropped its demand that Japan renegotiate a deal on wartime sex slavery.
PoliticsJanuary 9, 2018
Japan Südkorea Trostfrauen Sexsklaven Zweiter Weltkrieg

South Korea backtracks on 'comfort women' reparations

South Korea has written off a reparations deal signed by the old government for women forced into wartime sex slavery.
PoliticsDecember 28, 2017
Gerhard Schröder in Südkorea

Schröder angers Japan conservatives

Ex-German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder met former World War II "comfort women" and called for Japan to apologize.
SocietySeptember 12, 2017
Flagge Japan

South Korea court ruling reopens old wounds

Japanese firm Mitsubishi has been ordered by a South Korean court to compensate WWII forced laborers, stoking anger.
PoliticsAugust 10, 2017
Seoul Südkorea Statue Comfort Woman vor der japanischen Botschaft

Is the 'comfort women' deal falling apart?

A dispute over a "comfort woman" statue and the political turmoil in S. Korea raise fears about a bilateral deal.
PoliticsJanuary 9, 2017
Südkorea Busan Statue Gedenken Trostfrauen

Monk self-immolates over 'comfort women' deal

A South Korean monk has set himself on fire to protest the government's settlement with Japan on wartime sex slaves.
ConflictsJanuary 8, 2017
Südkorea Busan Statue Gedenken Trostfrauen

Japan recalls ambassador over comfort woman statue

Tokyo made the decision after South Korean officials failed to remove a statue dedicated to victims of sexual slavery.
PoliticsJanuary 6, 2017
Australien Sydney Gedenkstatue Trostfrauen

Japanese Australians fight against Korean sex slave memorial

A Japanese group in Australia is trying to stop a Korean group putting a "comfort women" memorial at a local church.
PoliticsDecember 15, 2016
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe shakes hands with South Korean President Park Geun-hye before bilateral summit at the Presidential Blue House in Seoul, South Korea, November 2, 2015 (Photo: Reuters/Yonhap/L. Jung-hoon)

Inching towards better ties

The two neighbors and long-time rivals have taken steps to ease the pain of the past, Julian Ryall reports from Tokyo.
September 1, 2016
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Should Obama apologize for Hiroshima?

DW asked Americans what they want Obama to say on his historic visit to Japan.
May 25, 201601:53 min
Südkoreanerin Lee Ok-Seong

The wounds of their lives

Lee Ok-Seon, a wartime sex slave, views the landmark Japan-South Korea deal on "comfort women" as a slap in the face.
January 15, 2016
Südkorea Protest ehemaliger "comfort women" gegen Abkommen mit Japan

'Comfort women' decry deal

"Comfort women" survivors have rejected South Korea's deal with Japan.
December 30, 2015
A statue honoring South Korean women forced to work as sex slaves in Japan's wartime brothels

UN chief praises 'comfort women' accord

Ban Ki-moon applauded Seoul and Tokyo's "leadership and vision for the betterment" of both countries.
December 29, 2015
South Korean protestors led by Lee Ok-Seong

S. Korea and Japan reach deal on sex slavery

South Korea and Japan have reached a landmark agreement on the issue of wartime sex slaves, known as "comfort women."
December 28, 2015
Südkorea Japan Treffen der Außenminister in Seoul

'Comfort women' talks set to continue

The South Korean foreign ministry has announced it will take part in talks with Japan on the issue of 'comfort women.'
December 25, 2015
Südkorea Treffen Shinzo Abe und Park Geun-hye Bilateraler Gipfel

Japan concedes on wartime abuse

Japanese Prime Minister Abe has told South Korea that Japan is ready for rapid talks on "comfort women."
November 2, 2015
Südkorea Seoul Trilateraler Gipfel Japan China

Rare Asian summit

South Korea's Park hosts Chinese and Japanese leaders at a rare summit.
November 1, 2015
Anti-Japan Protest in Seoul

Self-immolation at WWII demo

A man is expected to survive after setting himself ablaze outside Japan's embassy in Seoul.
August 12, 2015
Japanisch-Chinesischer Krieg 1937

Facing up to the past

Scholars say the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II is an occasion for Japan to address historic issues.
May 12, 2015
Protest ehemaliger "Trostfrauen" Japans in Südkorea

Japan debates its martial past

Premier Abe is expected to maintain his nationalist stance on the 70th anniversary of Japan’s capitulation.
March 16, 2015
A demonstrator displays a placard as the group demands an apology from Japan over the comfort women issue during a rally in front the Japan Interchange Association in Taipei on August 14, 2013.

A controversial apology

Seoul claims Japan is attempting to distance itself from the atrocities regarding 'comfort women.'
June 19, 2014
Two soldiers pass the World Forum building, where the Nuclear Security Summit 2014 is to be held in The Hague, The Netherlands, 16 March 2014. On 24 and 25 March the Netherlands will welcome 58 world leaders, 5,000 delegates and 3,000 journalists to the Nuclear Security Summit (NSS) in The Hague, the largest gathering of its kind ever held in this country.

Thawing relations?

There are hopes the strained ties between South Korea and Japan might be on the mend.
March 19, 2014
Former South Korean comfort woman Kil Un-ock, center, who was forced to serve for the Japanese troops as a sexual slave during World War II, shouts slogans during a rally against the recent comment of Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto in front of Japanese Embassy in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, May 15, 2013.

No apology?

Conservative groups want a retraction of a landmark apology over forced prostitution in WW II.
February 25, 2014
Lee Ok-Seong, (Photo: Tsukasa Yajima)

Uncomforting truth

Over six decades after the end of WW II, a former sex slave of the Japanese army tells her story.
September 2, 2013
Former South Korean comfort woman Kil Un-ock, center, who was forced to serve for the Japanese troops as a sexual slave during World War II, shouts slogans during a rally against the recent comment of Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto in front of Japanese Embassy in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, May 15, 2013. The Japanese outspoken nationalist mayor said on Monday the Japanese military's forced prostitution of Asian women before and during World War II was necessary to "maintain discipline" in the ranks and provide rest for soldiers who risked their lives in battle. The placard at right reads: "Apologizes for Japan's aggressive history." (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

'Comfort women' furore

Two Korean women who were used as sex slaves during World War II have cancelled a meeting with the outspoken mayor of Osaka. Nationalist politician Toru Hashimoto said the practice had been necessary.
May 24, 2013
Chinese to be buried alive by Japanese soldiers during Nanking Massacre. In 2008, another photo which presents the same scene was discovered in Japan verifies its authenticity[1]. 《日寇暴行实录》配图标题：南京寇军活埋我同胞之惨状 Datum 1937/38 Quelle First published in: A Faithful Record of Atrocity of Japanese Troops, 1938 Bundesarchiv, Bild 183-U1002-502 / CC-BY-SA

Comfort women

Japan believes it has apologized enough for its 20th century military excesses.
March 18, 2013
Protesters hold signs during their 1,000th weekly rally to demand an official apology and compensation for wartime sex slaves from the Japanese government

'Comfort women'

Former Korean sex slaves forced into Japanese brothels are still waiting for compensation.
December 14, 2011
During a demonstration at the Japanese embassy in Seoul, former comfort women take a moment of silence

Comfort women observe a moment of silence for Japan

Despite a long history of conflict, one of the first nations to send help to Japan was South Korea.
March 17, 2011