Court decides: Comfort women statue must be removed from Moabit!
The Berlin Administrative Court orders the removal of the comfort women statue in Moabit; Reinstallation planned at a different location.

Court decides: Comfort women statue must be removed from Moabit!
The Peace or Comfort Women statue in Berlin-Moabit is about to be removed from its current location. An urgent procedure by the Berlin Administrative Court decided that there was no legal right to toleration or a special use permit for the statue. The decision means the statue, which commemorates victims of sexual violence by the Japanese military during World War II, will soon be moved to a new location, with a move of a few hundred meters planned. The district mayor stated that the statue should be installed at Unionstrasse 8.
The statue was introduced in 2020, when it was erected by the Korea Association with the approval of the Mitte district office. In 2024, the county board requested the statue be removed by the end of October after ongoing differences over its future location. The court decision recognized the maximum installation period of two years for works of art in public spaces as legal. This regulation serves to ensure equal treatment of artists and was confirmed accordingly by the court.
Legal disputes and their consequences
The court not only decided on the removal, but also declared the threat of a fine against the association to be inadmissible. However, there is the possibility of enforcing the removal with a replacement. The association has already announced that it will lodge an appeal against the decision with the Berlin-Brandenburg Higher Administrative Court.
The issue surrounding the comfort women statue raises larger questions about public art. This type of artwork ranges from stills to fountains to contemporary creations and graffiti. The integration of art into urban spaces has gained importance since the 1960s, and various approaches to promoting artistic expressions have been developed. Art in public spaces is often initiated and financed by state, municipal and private bodies in order to increase the attractiveness of inner cities and stimulate social discussions.
The case of the comfort women statue could therefore also be viewed as an example of the challenges of art in urban spaces and their regulation. There have been similar controversies in the past, such as those surrounding Niki de Saint Phalle's Nanas in Hanover, which were initially controversial but eventually became an iconic part of the city's landscape.
It remains to be seen how the Korea Association will react to the judge's decision and what dialogues will be held in the future about the place of works of art in public spaces. The ongoing debate over the comfort women statue could bring new momentum to the discussion about the meaning and placement of works of art in society.
For further information about art in public spaces and its development and significance, we refer to the detailed information in the encyclopedia Wikipedia.
In conclusion, the case of the Comfort Women statue is not only a local issue, but is also symbolic of the ongoing challenges and opportunities of integrating art into our living spaces. The developments are of great interest to both artists and the public.