Only 5 Survivors Remain... Marking the 9th Memorial Day for Comfort Women

[Anchor]

Today (August 14), just a day before Liberation Day, marks the 9th Memorial Day for the victims of the Japanese military's sexual slavery, known as "comfort women." Designated to commemorate the late Grandmother Kim Hak-sun, who made the first public testimony in 1991, memorial events honoring the courage and sacrifice of the victims were held across the country. Our reporter is live at the commemoration site.

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

[Reporter]

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

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

The rain actually became heavier right before the event started, so attendees are currently 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: We want compensation and an apology from the country (Japan), and seeing so many students gives us strength.]

[Grandmother Lee Yong-soo: Today is not just any day, but the Memorial Day, which we truly must never 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, right?

[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 seen clasping her hands together with reddened eyes, or holding hands and talking with other attendees.

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

No one remains at the House of Sharing, where the grandmothers used to live, and 22 commemorative busts now stand guard there instead.

Amid concerns over vandalism by some far-right groups, the barricades surrounding the Statue of Peace were removed two months ago after 6 years, making this year's Memorial Day feel 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.