Beyond Anger

By Kim Sun-ae

A Korean girl, at the age of 14, was drafted in to a battlefield against her will. She was forced to be a sex slave by the Japanese military.

After World War II ended, the girl survived and returned to her hometown.

In 1992, the survivor Kim Bok-dong made public that she was one of the victims of the Japanese military sexual slavery system Visiting Europe, the US and so on, she testified to the crime of the Japanese military.

Kim became a peace and human rights activist. Even in her 90s, she went out into the street to participate in the Wednesday demonstration for the resolution of the Japanese military sexual slavery issue.

She wanted the Japanese government to make a formal apology and offer legal compensation.

At the same time, Kim maintained a humanitarian point of view.

When a huge earthquake occurred in Northeastern Japan in 2011, she made a donation for Japanese citizens.

In the past, I was angry at the Japanese government that refused to offer a sincere apology to the victims of the Japanese military sexual slavery system But I realized that anger is not helpful to myself, others and the resolution of the issue.

Now I do not feel anger at Japan's government anymore. A peaceful world will begin with inner peace.

I would like to say to Japanese citizens and their government beyond anger ― let's make a peaceful world as fellow global citizens.

Of course, I hope that the Japanese government will officially apologize to the survivors before all of them die.

Courage is required to admit one's crime in the past. The courage, however, will be an important stepping stone to peace in Korea and Japan and, ultimately, world peace.

It is crucial for the Japanese government to admit national responsibility for its military sexual slavery system If Tokyo continues to deny the truth, such a...