Now that a considerable amount of time has passed since the issue of the Japanese military “Comfort Women” was publicized, what are the questions young researchers are asking here?  

How has our understanding of “coercion” in forced labor and the Japanese military “Comfort Women” system changed over time? This essay examines the multilayered nature of these issues, moving beyond nationalist narratives and historical denialism toward a broader understanding through the lens of universal human rights.

Nam Kijeong (Institute for Japanese Studies, Seoul National University)/ Cho Yanghyeon (Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security)/ Cho Sihyeon (The Center of Historical Truth and Justice)

Written by Jeong Yeong-hwan, Professor at Meiji Gakuin University, and Pak Noja, Professor at the University of Oslo

This article examines the Japanese military “comfort women” issue through the lens of women’s human rights, extending the discussion to structural violence against women, social exclusion, and economic inequality. It further calls for victim-centered social restructuring and redistribution.

Written by Shin Ki-young, Professor at Ochanomizu University, Japan

 Panel: Nam Kijeong (Institute for Japanese Studies, Seoul National University)/ Cho Yanghyeon (Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security)/ Cho Sihyeon (The Center of Historical Truth and Justice)

Written by Jeong Yeong-hwan, Professor at Meiji Gakuin University, and Pak Noja, Professor at the University of Oslo

Time and again, we have seen the pattern of distortions, misogyny, and gaslighting of victims of sexual violence and their advocates as corrupt and greedy money grabbers.