Only 5 Survivors Left… The 9th Memorial Day for Comfort Women

[Anchor]

Today (August 14), the day before Liberation Day, marks the 9th Memorial Day for Victims of Japanese Military Sexual Slavery. It was established to commemorate the day in 1980 [sic] when the late Kim Hak-sun first gave public testimony. Memorial events honoring the courage and sacrifice of the victims were held across the country. Our reporter is out at one of the commemoration sites.

Reporter Kim Minjun, it looks like it is raining. Could you first tell us about the atmosphere at the scene?

[Reporter]

I am stationed near the former Japanese Embassy in Jongno-gu, Seoul.

The Butterfly Cultural Festival, hosted by the civic group the Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance for the Issues of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan, has been underway here for about an hour.

Raindrops actually became heavier just before the event started, so attendees are now participating while holding umbrellas.

Although they could not attend in person today, the surviving grandmothers expressed their gratitude through video messages.

[Grandmother Park Pil-geun: I want to receive compensation and an apology from the government (Japan), and seeing so many students gives me strength.]

[Grandmother Lee Yong-soo: Today is not just any day, but the "Memorial Day," which we truly must not forget. Thank you so much for recognizing this and coming out in this hot weather.]

[Anchor]

There was also an official government event this morning, is that correct?

[Reporter]

The official government event was hosted by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family this morning.

Grandmother Lee Yong-soo also attended the site, where she was spotted folding her hands together with watery eyes, or holding hands and talking with attendees.

Out of the 240 victims of the Japanese military sexual slavery officially registered with the government, only 5, including Grandmother Lee Yong-soo, remain alive today.

No one is left at the House of Sharing where the grandmothers used to stay, and 22 memorial busts now guard the House of Sharing instead.

As the barricades surrounding the Statue of Peace were removed two months ago for the first time in six years amid concerns of vandalism by some far-right groups, this year's Memorial Day feels all the more meaningful.

(Video by Joo Yong-jin and Kim Han-gyeol | Video Editing by Choi Hye-young)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.