뉴스레터

Editor's Note: In June 2012, when the Nikon Salon in Tokyo had suddenly canceled his photo exhibition, 'layer by layer,' scheduled to be held there, and refused to give him any explanation, Ahn Se-hong, a Korean photographer based in Japan, filed an court injunction ordering the Salon to allow his exhibition to be held. Although the Tokyo District Court granted the injunction and the exhibition was eventually opened, the Nikon Salon had a lawyer present in the premises and went so far as to have the visitors' bodies searched in the name of the protection of the photographer, his works, and the facility from the right wing. Mr. Ahn brought a lawsuit against the Nikon Salon for interfering with the normal course of the exhibition and infringing on freedom of expression. Two years have passed, but the case is still pending in the court of first instance. On June 13, 2014, during his recent visit to Korea to meet former 'comfort women,' Mr. Ahn took time for an interview with NAHF PR Manager Kang Jeong-mi in front of the 'comfort woman' statue in front of the Japanese Embassy to Korea.

Q I understand that you are based in Japan. What brings you to Korea this time?

A Ahn Se-hong The purpose of my visit to Korea is to meet those former 'comfort women' living in the South Gyeongsang Province. I will take pictures of who they are today. In around 2008, my photo project on former 'comfort women' in Korea was put on hold for personal reasons. But as I've decided to expand my project to include all the former 'comfort women' in countries across Asia, I've resumed meeting those still alive and living in Korea. After my schedule in Korea, I will go immediately to Beijing and Shaanxi Province in China to hold 'comfort women' photo exhibitions. The particular city where I really want to see my exhibition held is Nanjing. Layer by Layer - The Stories of 'Comfort Women' Left Behind in China is my work book featuring those old Korean victims leading a desolate life in China who have different sad stories to tell. I'm planning to meet the "Chinese" victims next.

Q I noticed that most of your pictures of the victims were in black and white.

A Ahn Se-hong Colored pictures are characterized by 'reality.' They show the object as it is. But I think that black & white ones are more fit to show what's inside a human being, because they help keep the audience's attention focused on the people instead of letting it fly away to things around them.

Q Looking at your pictures, I can feel the depth of the victims' pains victims. I imagine that taking such powerfully poignant pictures must be a difficult thing to do.

A Ahn Se-hong Pointing the camera at them is not the first thing I do when I meet them. Of course, it is my goal to take pictures of them and let the world see those pictures so that people will be inspired to start coming forward to help resolve this issue. Even if the goal is sound, it is still rude to force it on them before everything else. What I do Instead is to frequently visit and talk to them to get to know each other better, until they naturally allow me to take pictures of them in the background of their daily lives. Taking pictures in itself is easy, taking only thirty minutes to one hour to complete. But the real challenge is to capture what's inside people, which cannot be done without learning about, and truly sympathizing with, their individual stories and their individual pains.

Most of the Korean former 'comfort women' residing in China live in remote villages. To meet some of them, I had to make over five visits. To visit them, I have to travel over 10 hours by train, or even by foot! But that's nothing compared to the painful experience of listening to their testimony about the suffering that was inflicted on them and their tough life. The worst part is that no matter how worthwhile my work of documenting them showing the pictures to the world, when I come back to them, I often them in a situation that has become worse, not better, than it was before. I feel guilt, shame, and utter frustration when my cries for help for the victims have fallen on deaf ears and failed to get them the help they really need.

Q Please tell us about the Layer-by-Layer Project.

A Ahn Se-hong The phrase 'layer by layer' is intended to take on multiple meanings. It refers to the deep furrows on their faces, and also to the figurative layers of sorrow remaining in their hearts. It also carries the feelings that I've had while meeting the victims, feelings of the weight and magnitude of their pains. On the other hand, the phrase also signifies that small input can add up to become something big and powerful. Initially, meeting and taking pictures of the victims was my individual effort, until I expanded it to a team project two or three years ago. The Layer-by-Layer Project, although focused on the photo exhibitions, carries out activities in other fields of the arts as well, conducting cultural campaigns to raise citizens' awareness of this issue and providing services absolutely necessary for the victims, such as fixing their houses. Last year, we published a work book titled Layer by Layer: Indelible Traces, which is a collection of essays written by our project members sharing their experience of talking heart-to-heart with the victims.

2012년 서울 통의동에 위치한 류가헌에서
열린 사진전 '겹겹(重重, layer by layer)'에서
일본군 '위안부' 피해자인 고 박대임 할머니
사진 앞에 선 안세홍 사진작가

Q Who are the participants in the project?

A Ahn Se-hong There are seven Steering Committee members and around twenty active participants. We have about 700 members so far who have provided support for the cause. Most of them are Japanese. I think that the participation of many Japanese is both desirable and important. It is the most important goal of the Layer-by-Layer Project to let the Japanese know about the 'comfort women' issue and get them involved voluntarily in the efforts to resolve it.

Spending time abroad, I can see that there are many people who regard it simply as a historical issue between Korea and Japan. There are also quite a few people who just take sides with Japan, saying that the two countries are engaged in a pointless squabble. Obviously they don't know much about the history of Japan's colonial rule over Korea and aggression against its neighboring countries. I want to challenge these mistakenly preconceived ideas that they have about Japan being right no matter what even though they don't even know what lies at the root of the 'comfort women' issue.

Q Wasn't our argument about the 'comfort women' issue getting the sympathy of people in other countries?

A Ahn Se-hong It seems that way because we make our case and then get only positive response filtered through our press. When I meet and talk to foreigners and read the foreign press myself, I realize that the situation is far from favorable to us, and that they don't readily agree with our argument. When they ask about the issue, they always ask about both Korea's and Japan's arguments. They want to hear about the basis and reason for each argument. When I travel abroad looking for venues for my photo exhibitions, I often encounter managers who refuse to hold exhibitions on this topic in their venues, even though they are not proponents of Japan's argument, nor are they Japanese or receiving support from Japan.

Q What would be the most effective way to win over those who are not familiar with the issue?

A Ahn Se-hong First of all, the majority of the Japanese are not interested. They try to avoid facing it because they think it is a difficult and troublesome issue. Giving these people a chance to get interested is more important than anything else. The Japanese are fond of photography. If they visit the gallery, even if by chance, and see the photos and listen to the stories behind them, they will learn what they didn't know before and keep their interest in the topic. I want to provide such opportunities for them.

Q When all the former 'comfort women' pass away, will it also be the end of the Layer-by-Layer Project?

A Ahn Se-hong I will keep the project going until the complete resolution of this issue. But I should first do my best to resolve the issue the way they want it to be resolved while they are alive. If the problem remains even after unfortunately all of them are gone, I will carry on with my work of raising awareness of this issue, documenting the activities of those struggling to address and resolve it. I can't just stop simply because they passed away, can I?

Q It appears that lately Korea and China are seeking a joint response to the 'comfort women' issue. What do you think the two governments can do together?

A Ahn Se-hong In 2006, the Ministry of Gender Equality & Family of Korea expanded its pension program for former 'comfort women' to include those living in China. The money in dollars is deposited into their individual bank accounts. But being old, ill, living alone without family in a remote village, they are not managing the money very well. For one thing, going all the way to the downtown area where the bank is located is hard for them, not to mention changing the money once it is withdrawn. What is more disconcerting is that there are some bad people around them who pocket what little money they receive. I think that it is the government's job to not stop at sending the money but to ensue that it is being received properly and spent well. Some of the victims have schizophrenia and spend most of their time in bed. Since there is no one to take care of them, their houses are caving in or in totally uninhabitable conditions. 'Layer by Layer' members and I offer them services, such as papering the walls and fixing the houses, but there is only so much we can do. I heard that in Korea the local community centers are taking care of old Korean people living alone. I wonder if the Korean government could do the same, providing them with care service on a regular service. I understand that it will be difficult because they are not within the country, but I wish that the Korean government could talk with its Chinese counterpart to give them what little help might be available.

Q What are the thoughts of ordinary Japanese citizens?

A Ahn Se-hong They say that the 'comfort women' issue is "heartbreaking." But that's it. To the Dokdo issue, their response is firm: "It's Japanese territory." Period. This response is quite common to all, whether they are young or in their 60s. But if they find it the 'comfort women' issue heartbreaking, there is still a chance to win over them. That's why I hold photo exhibitions. I make sure that they are held in galleries because in Japan galleries are places where the general public visits without prejudice. When I exhibit photos in such places and talk to visitors about the stories of people featured in the photos, I find that it makes a difference in their response.

Q What do you want to say to Korean citizens or relevant organizations?

A Ahn Se-hong The government has its own roles, and so does the civic organization. If the line is crossed, there'll be a clash. Some of the Koreans take an emotional approach to this issue, still regarding it as a historical challenge between Korea and Japan that remains unresolved. But that is no way to solve this problem. That is no way to win support from other countries. We should not let it spill over and turn into an emotional fight between the two peoples. Instead, we should approach it as a universal human rights issue. The Japanese government's current attitude toward this issue makes me angry. But getting angry is not going to help. We should use rationality and logic in turning anger into energy needed for the resolution of the issue.

Q Then what should the government do?

A Ahn Se-hong I believe that Korea should play a central role in working with the international community to seek solutions, pressuring Japan to resolve this issue at the humanitarian level, because Korea has been the leader of addressing this issue for a long time.