1961 Jan 31 - US Military and Korean Representatives Attend VD Lecture for Comfort Women

The following January 31, 1961 article from the South Korean newspaper Donga Ilbo reports on a "refinement training" lecture given to more than 800 "comfort women" in Dongducheon, South Korea, where the US 7th Infantry Division was stationed.

The fact that US military representatives attended the lecture is evidence that the US military knew of and supported military prostitution in South Korea. Or if we were to use US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's definition, the US military knew of and supported "enforced sexual slavery" in South Korea. "Comfort woman" was a Korean euphemism for "military prostitute."

Here is my translation of the article:

Leedam Police Station Hosts Lecture on Refinement for Comfort Women

(Dongducheon) At 11 a.m. on the 27th, a short training course on refinement began for more than 800 comfort women at the Donggwang Theater here. It was hosted by the Leedam Police Station.

Several US and Korean representatives attended, including the Deputy Commander of the Military Police at the US 7th Infantry Division, which is stationed here, and the Director of the Division's Civil Affairs Office.

After stressing such topics as venereal disease prevention and management, the training ended with a group of comfort women giving brillant performances in song and dance.