hankyoreh

Seongbuk Mayor Lee Seung-roh and students from Gyesung High school hold a rally calling for the permanent preservation of a comfort woman statue in Berlin’s Mitte borough while standing behind comfort woman statues at the entrance of Hansung University Station in Seoul on Wednesday. (Lee Jeong-a/The Hankyoreh)

Students at Gyesung High school in Seoul have been campaigning since October last year against the removal of a comfort woman statue in Berlin’s Mitte borough, sending hand-written letters asking Berliners to reconsider the removal.

Seongbuk Mayor Lee Seung-roh and students from Gyesung High school hold a rally calling for the permanent preservation of a comfort woman statue in Berlin’s Mitte borough while standing behind comfort woman statues at the entrance of Hansung University Station in Seoul on Wednesday. (Lee Jeong-a/The Hankyoreh)

The campaign grew larger when students at 26 nearby schools — seven elementary schools, 10 middle schools and nine high schools — joined the effort.

Seongbuk Mayor Lee Seung-roh and students from Gyesung High school hold a rally calling for the permanent preservation of a comfort woman statue in Berlin’s Mitte borough while standing behind comfort woman statues at the entrance of Hansung University Station in Seoul on Wednesday. (Lee Jeong-a/The Hankyoreh)

Residents from Seongbuk District, where Gyesung High school is located, also joined the rally, including employees at the Seongbuk District Office.

They wrote a total of 3,600 letters, which the district office delivered to Berlin.

The district office said it will “continue to support the effort by the young people and residents to help preserve the comfort woman statue in Berlin.”

By Lee Jeong-a, staff photographer

Please direct comments or questions to [english@hani.co.kr]