MOSCOW (Sputnik) – A South Korean man set himself on fire outside of the Japanese embassy in Seoul on Wednesday during a protest demanding an apology for the thousands of Korean women who were forced into Japan’s army brothels during World War II, local media reported.
According to the Korea Times newspaper, the man, 80, attempted to set himself on fire as the Korean council for the Women Drafted for Military Sexual Slavery by Japan were holding a rally in front of the embassy.
As many as 1,000 people were present when the incident occurred, according to the newspaper. The man is now being treated at a local hospital, the outlet reported citing the police.
According to varying estimates, between 20,000 and 400,000 women were forced into sexual slavery by the Imperial Japanese Army in occupied territories during World War II. Many of the women forced into sex slavery came from Korea, China and the Philippines. Various survivors’ reports revealed that the so-called comfort women were often beaten and tortured.
Last August, the United Nations stated that Japan failed to pursue a comprehensive resolution to the issue of wartime sexual slavery.
On August 15, Tokyo and Seoul will commemorate the end of the World War II, Japan’s colonial rule over Korea and the 50th anniversary of restored diplomatic ties between the two neighbors.
