Recently unearthed US military documents have cast a stark new light on a deeply troubling aspect of the American presence in South Korea, alleging systematic exploitation of women in camp towns that bore a chilling resemblance to Japan's Second World War-era 'comfort women' system.
The findings, part of a decades-long investigation by a South Korean government-affiliated committee, suggest that from the 1960s to the 1990s, the US military command was not merely a passive observer but an active participant in the management of a prostitution system designed to serve its soldiers.
A Systematised Network of Exploitation
The declassified papers reveal a highly organised network. The US military is alleged to have conducted regular health checks on women working in bars and clubs, a practice known as the 'whore's brown sheet' system, to control the spread of sexually transmitted diseases amongst troops. This institutionalised medical oversight is seen by researchers as implicit endorsement and management of the sex trade surrounding its bases.
Furthermore, the documents indicate that South Korean authorities, under the US-supported authoritarian regime, collaborated in this system. The Korean Women's Association for Democracy and Sisterhood described the US military's role as "active and intentional," highlighting a grievous abuse of power.
Echoes of a Painful Past
The term 'comfort women' is inextricably linked to the estimated 200,000 women, many Korean, forced into sexual slavery by the Japanese military during the Second World War. The revelation that a similar system was perpetuated decades later by a key ally has sent shockwaves through South Korean society, reopening old wounds and demanding a re-examination of this painful period of US-Korea relations.
This modern system, while not officially termed 'comfort women', shared its core characteristic: the organised sexual exploitation of women for military personnel.
Calls for Accountability and Recognition
Victims and advocacy groups are now demanding a formal apology and a full investigation from the United States government. They argue that the US must acknowledge its historical responsibility, just as it has pressured Japan to do regarding its wartime actions.
The South Korean government's Truth and Reconciliation Commission has been actively investigating these claims, receiving hundreds of petitions from victims. Their ongoing work seeks to officially recognise the suffering of these women and document the full extent of the collaboration between the US and South Korean governments.
This dark chapter raises profound questions about morality, power, and the often-overlooked human cost of military alliances, compelling a long-overdue reckoning with this uncomfortable history.
