hankyoreh

Members of the Korean Council take part in the Wednesday Demonstration on Aug. 10, in which 74 organizations in 8 countries joined in solidarity, marching and calling for a formal apology from the Japanese government.

Leading up to the international day of remembrance for victims of the Japanese military’s “comfort women” system on Aug. 14, the Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance for the Issues of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan is holding a variety of events under the theme of “We stand stronger! Face the truth of history! Remember the courage of the victims!”

One of the main events is the Wednesday Demonstration and rally for global solidarity, which was held at noon on Wednesday to mark the 10th International Memorial Day for Japanese Military Comfort Women.

Participants in the Aug. 10 Wednesday Demonstration call on the Japanese government to issue a formal apology to victims of the comfort women system.

Other events include a free screening of the film “Comfort,” which deals with the life of the late Kim Sun-ak, and a conversation with director Emmanuel Moonchil Park, at 7 pm on Thursday. Additionally, the Butterfly Festival will be held at Cheonggye Plaza in Seoul at 5 pm on Sunday, Aug. 14.

Participants in the Aug. 10 Wednesday Demonstration outside the former Japanese Embassy in downtown Seoul dance to the song “Like a Rock” during the demonstration.

The International Memorial Day for Japanese Military Comfort Women is held on Aug. 14 to commemorate the day in 1991 when Kim Hak-soon first testified about what she had suffered as a comfort woman, referring to women forced to work at brothels for the Japanese imperial army. The day was designated as a state memorial day through a partial revision of the Act on Protection, Support and Commemorative Projects for Sexual Slavery Victims for the Japanese Imperial Army in December 2017.

Before the demonstration at noon on Wednesday, participants marched from the entrance to Cheonggye Plaza down Jongno and to the former site of the Japanese Embassy, demanding an official policy and compensation for damages from the Japanese government.

Participants in the Aug. 10 Wednesday Demonstration call on the Japanese government to issue a formal apology to victims of the comfort women system.

A participant in the Aug. 10 Wednesday Demonstration in downtown Seoul holds up a sign calling on the Japanese government to issue a sincere apology to Korea’s comfort women.

Photos and article by Yoon Woon-sik, senior staff writer

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