Seoul mayor candidate Kim Moon-soo ignorant of comfort woman statue in front of Japanese Embassy in Seoul

Seoul Mayoral candidate Kim Moon-soo of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party appeared to be unaware of the comfort woman statue that stands in front of Japanese Embassy in Seoul.

At a meeting with Seoul-based foreign journalists on Monday, Kim said it is good to install the statues “here and there” to “study history” but he disagrees if the purpose of installation is to ruin the relationship with Japan.

“There is not one in front of the Japanese Embassy, right? I think there is not one. I think we should think about why we install them. It is OK to have them in front of Independence Memorial Hall, and historical exhibits. But there is not one in front the Japanese Embassy,” he said when a reporter from a Japanese news outlet asked for his thoughts on the removal of the statue in front of the Japanese Embassy in Seoul.

When Kim was told that there indeed is a statue in front of the Japanese embassy, he said he will discuss the matter with related parties and make a decision on the statue if he is elected Seoul Mayor.

Officially called “Statue of Peace,” the very first statue of a young girl was placed across the street from the Japanese Embassy in 2011 to honor the victims of the military sexual slavery by Japan during World War II.

Since then, the statue there has often raised diplomatic friction as Japan has frequently asked for its removal. But Seoul Metropolitan Government has been rejecting the calls, saying it has no authority to do so since the statue was erected by civic groups.

During the press meeting, Kim also talked about the reunification issue, proposing three conditions that should be met for a reunification of the two Koreas -- guarantee of human rights of North Koreans, promotion of reforms and open market policy in the North, and promise of freedom.

As for the upcoming US-North Korea summit slated for June 12, Kim expressed both hope and concern.

“I wish for the summit to be successful, but it makes me worry that the North Korea nuclear weapons issue is dealt with too slowly, in gradual manner, when it should be resolved right away in a package settlement,” Kim said.

“I was often impressed by the speeches made by US President Donald Trump because he is very similar to me. But it also makes me worry if he becomes too friendly with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and decides to withdraw the US troops in Korea,” the conservative mayoral candidate said.

Kim Moon-soo also said he will be killed by North Korea if the US troops in Korea are withdrawn.

“Why would I not be shot to death (by the Kim Jong-un regime) when Kim has executed (his influential uncle) Jang Song-thaek and his half brother Kim Jong-nam?” Kim Moon-soo said.

“We would not have the power to protect ourselves from the North (when the US troops are withdrawn), I would go fight against North Korea, but who else will?”

By Jo He-rim (herim@heraldcorp.com)