32 Students From Yonhi Middle School Learn About Comfort Women In A Special History Class On Sexual Slavery During World War II
Ninth graders studying at Yonhi Middle School in Seoul, South Korea, learned about sexual slavery during the World War II in a special history class conducted on Sept. 23 using different materials such as special textbooks and a video presentation.
The move is part of the government's project to raise the awareness of the youth regarding the matter, Korea Times reported on the same day. Women who were victims of sexual slavery by the alleged Imperial Japanese army before and during the war were called "comfort women."
A total of 32 students participated in the special history class. Before the lecture started, a video presentation was played in the class. After which, students started answering the questions on their workbooks.
"It is important for students like you to know what happened and understand this terrible part of our history," Gender Equality and Family Minister Kim Heem Jung tells the students. "Sexual slavery is an ongoing issue related to rights of women around the world, and your role will be important in solving it."
Kim adds that the distribution of study materials "marked a milestone in public and private efforts at raising awareness of the issue and getting Japan to apologize."
"The existing history textbook only covers the subject briefly," says History teacher Kwon O Chung. The new workbook helps students understand what a sex slave is; how the women were forced into the situation; and what that means to the victims."
Meanwhile, Yi Ok Seon, who was a victim of sex slavery for three years, talked about her experience. At a young age, she and other women were "forced to work as sex slaves in Japan's military brothels" during the World War II, as reported by BBC on May 29, 2013.
"I felt really violated, being tricked and taken like that as a young teenager," says Yi. "It was like a slaughter house there - not for animals, but for humans. Outrageous things were done."
On the other hand, the special history class was well delivered as the students learned more about sex slavery during World War II.
"I've heard about sex slaves, but didn't know the details until today - especially how they were forced into slavery," says Kim Do Hee, a student at Yonhi Middle School.
She adds, "As a woman, the issue touches me deeply, and I feel sorry for the victims."
