Annandale ‘comfort woman’ statue is gone
The Statue of Peace in Annandale honoring the Korean “comfort women” has been removed.
The statue was installed in front of an office building at 7601 Little River Turnpike in Annandale in October 2019 by the Washington Coalition for Comfort Women Issues (WCCW). The statue reminds the public of the sacrifices of the thousands of Korean women forced into sexual slavery by the Japanese Army during World War II.
The owner of the building asked the WCCW to remove the statue in July, said Elizabeth Cho, of Washington Butterfly for Hope, an organization that is part of the coalition.
According to Cho, a new tenant needs to use the yard in front of the building. Also, she said, the owner didn’t want the coalition to hold a rally that had been planned in front of the statue to protest the president of South Korea’s statement that Japan doesn’t have to apologize for abducting Korean women during the war.
Related story: Annandale Statue of Peace honors ‘comfort women’
The statue is currently in a WCCW member’s house in Fairfax while the organization looks for a permanent location.
The group is considering moving it to Ellicott City in Maryland, which has a sizeable Korean population, Cho said. A couple of Virginia churches also expressed an interest in having the statue, but the WCCW prefers it be outdoors where it’s visible to the public.
Cho would like the statue to stay in Annandale. Anyone who owns property on a busy street in Annandale who would like to host the statue should contact her at 703-606-6115.
According to Cho, there are just eight or nine former comfort women still living in Korea. At the dedication of the Annandale statue, a 92-year-old survivor said her youth and dreams were taken away when she was forced into a Japanese military brothel when she was 13.
With all the statues being removed we need some new ones. These women should be honored and there is little likelihood that “wokeness” would get the statue removed anytime soon. Few places are more Korean than Annandale — outside of Korea itself. Why don’t they put it in that little triangle park/grassy area where Columbia Pike hits Little River Turnpike?
Agree 100 percent that this statue needs to be preserved as a vital part of humanitarian history… Unsure of your reference to “wokeness”??? Will be so glad when that term vanishes…
So the drunk Hispanics in that park can mess it up? Nope it needs to be in a place that will be honored. Maybe a Korean worship center or something.
Yes, surely we can find a space for this impt. statue in Annandale!
I agree that this statue should stay in Annandale. Why aren’t Korean businesses stepping up to help find a permanent location for this important memorial?
I loved seeing this statue every time I drove by. It should remain in Annandale. This is a shame.
We need THE STATUE here. I observe this statue for a long long time an to me IT IS INSPIRATION for ALL WOMEN that has experienced bondage/Slavery. I am for the statue to remain here in Annandale. Please 🙏🙏 keep it here.
How about at Greenspring Gardens? Or at Mason District or Ossian Hall Park?
Good ideas here to keep in our area. Would be neat at Greensprings or Mason Park.
Agreed that it needs to be here. The side on the Mason District Park that is on Columbia Pike maybe? The triangle were Backlick, Little River, and Columbia Pike meet would also work.
These womens’ suffering ARE important and should be commemorated for future generations to learn from and to honor their courage. The statue absolutely should be visible to the public.
I wondered what had happened to it. I agree the statue needs to be preserved preferably close to Korean businesses Not at a public park as it may lose the purpose.
This status NEEDS to be here in Annandale. I will be very sad if it goes! Come on Annandale!!!!
The location at “ The triangle were Backlick, Little River, and Columbia Pike meet” is perfect. It has outstanding visibility, thanks to high traffic flow.
It’s a perfectly appropriate memorial but it’s a bit odd to place it here. Yes, there’s a sizable Korean community but the atrocities occurred elsewhere and at a time when there were very few if any Korean residents in this area. Do descendants of these women live in the area? I’m quite happy to have the memorial here but wouldn’t it be more appropriately placed– and more effective in its goal– in South Korea?
In other words, “go back where you came from.” Nice.
My eyes have always been drawn to it as a lovely piece of art, I and appreciate it even more now that I know the history behind it. I hope the statue stays readily visible to the public here in Annandale. Crimes of war and crimes against women are sadly universal ones that(should) speak to all of us. Are you listening?
She is called “The Statue of Peace.” How sad that you feel at all inconvenienced by her.
In other words, “go back where you came from.”
Not at all, and it’s disappointing that someone with ill will would twist my comment into such garbage. I challenge you to find any such xenophobia in my comment. That you see it there is more on you, my friend. My goodness, how sad that someone as mean-spirited as you resides in my neighborhood.
James, the Japanese military forced rape on every female they could get their hands on from little girls on up so yes, probably a lot of Comfort Women descendants live here. Hopefully a decent place can be found for it.
I’m very familiar with the atrocities committed upon Korean and Chinese women by Imperial Japan. What I do not know is if any of the survivors or their families emigrated and reside here. Regardless, the owner should consider donating the statue to Fairfax County Government so that it can receive more prominent placement, garner more attention, and receive appropriate upkeep. I’ve lived here for 50 years yet never laid eyes on it nor knew of its existance. I doubt if I’m unique.
I was wondering what happened to the Statue. I remember when it was placed there. Sad to see it go.