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Rep. Mike Honda receives honorary doctorate from Korean university

October 9, 2015

U.S. Congressman Mike Honda, second from right, receives an honorary doctorate in politics from Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (HUFS) at the Capitol in Washington, D.C., Thursday for his efforts to help victims of Japan’s wartime sexual slavery. From left are former Saenuri Party lawmaker Park Jin; HUFS President Kim In-chul; Honda; and HUFS Graduate School President Kang Hyo-suk. (Yonhap)

WASHINGTON (Yonhap) ― U.S. Congressman Mike Honda, D-Calif., received an honorary doctorate in politics from a South Korean university Thursday for his efforts to help address grievances of victims of Japan’s wartime sexual slavery and strengthen relations between the two countries.

Hankuk University of Foreign Studies President Kim In-chul awarded the degree to Honda in a ceremony at Congress, saying the congressman worked hard to promote historical truth and human rights and contributed to promoting the alliance between the two countries.

Honda has long been at the forefront of efforts to get Japan to admit and apologize to victims for the sexual slavery.

In 2007, he led the unanimous passage through the House of a landmark resolution urging Japan to acknowledge its actions, apologize and accept historical responsibility in a clear and unequivocal manner.

In April this year, ahead of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s visit to Washington, Honda also led dozens of congressmen and women to issue a joint letter urging the nationalist Abe to acknowledge historical facts and improve relations with South Korea.