Eighth International Conference on Communication & Media Studies

Abstract

The paper analyses grassroots’ concerns about the Japanese military “comfort women,” forcibly recruited to military “comfort stations” during the Second World War. Gyeongsang-Namdo Province had the greatest number of victims of this type. Citizens of Tongyeong and Geoje cities in the Province developed a website (Dagagagi) to support the victims from the communities. The website represents the contemporary citizens’ nationalism and national identities with reference to the crimes committed by imperial Japan and the community’s efforts to seek apologies. The paper’s central question is: Why did it take half a century for the victims to come out and seek apologies and compensation? The author downloaded the Dagagagi’s contents (360-pages-A4) and analysed them, using NVivo software. In analyzing the data, the author used Margaret Archer’s realist social scientific perspective to look for the most prevalent structure, culture and people’s agency over the last several decades. South Korea’s advanced economic status and increasing power in the international community are crucial elements in the community’s efforts. The power imbalance between Chosun Korea and imperial Japan produced the victims. Japan’s imperial approach has continued and refused to make public apologies. However, empowered by international communities to support human rights and Korean governments’ and NGOs’ support, Korean grassroots organisations have developed significant momentum to support the victims and seek apologies from the Japanese government. The activities include: highschool girls’ letter writing to the Japanese parliament, installation of the Statue of Justice, and visiting Japan and collaborating with Japanese activists for the sake of human dignities.