Accurate and Insightful: A Wise Approach to Engaging with “Comfort Women” Records and Information

At a time when the history of the Japanese military “Comfort Women” is increasingly being disparaged and distorted, digital archives are expanding their role as both a reliable repository of information and a platform for communication.

• 2026-04-22
• Kim Seo-yeon

The Unique and Irreplaceable “Voices of ‘Comfort Women’”

The history of the Japanese Military “Comfort Women” issue has challenged long-standing conservative cultural norms regarding women and sexuality in Asia by amplifying the voices of the victims. Moreover, it has contributed to the establishment of globally significant norms and values related to women’s human rights. This means that the records documenting the Japanese Military “Comfort Women” issue and related activities meet the criteria of “world significance.”

• 2024-08-19
• Hye-in Han

Voices of “Comfort Women”: A Global Civic Movement for Memory

The suffering of the Japanese Military “Comfort Women,” one of the most tragic human rights abuses of the 20th century, should be preserved and managed as historical documentary heritage. This is crucial to prevent such atrocities from recurring and provide a lesson to future generations.

• 2024-08-12
• Hye-in Han

The most elementary data among the ‘comfort women’-related records of the Allied Forces

Hwang Byoung-joo 

The author's interest lies in the modern transformation of Korea and he conducts relevant studies. He is currently involved in the project related to the war crimes of the Japanese military against ‘comfort women’ at the National Institute of Korean History.  

• 2019-09-25
• Byeongju Hwang

“Voices of ‘Comfort Women’” as History in Progress

In 2022, as a result of Japan’s aggressive diplomacy, UNESCO’s MoW inscription rules were revised to require all documents to be submitted through national governments. Additionally, if a concerned country objects, the application is halted from entering the review process and must instead undergo a so-called “dialogue” procedure. Under these revised rules, any attempt by a victimized country to submit documents related to the Japanese Military “Comfort Women” is likely to be blocked before even reaching the review stage due to Japan’s opposition.

• 2024-09-02
• Hye-in Han