GWANGJU in GYEONGGI, Aug. 11 (Korea Bizwire) – In a poignant ceremony held four days before the official Comfort Women Memorial Day, about 200 people gathered at the House of Sharing in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, to honor the victims of Japan’s wartime sexual slavery system.
The event, themed “Yellow Butterfly – A Promise to the Next Generation,” took place on August 10 and featured a cultural festival, a memorial ceremony, and floral tributes to the busts of victims residing at the House of Sharing.
Comfort Women Memorial Day, observed annually on August 14, commemorates the day in 1991 when Kim Hak-soon became the first victim to publicly testify about her experiences as a “comfort woman” — a euphemism for those forced into sexual slavery by the Japanese military during World War II. The day was designated as a national memorial day in 2018.
The ceremony included performances by singers Kim Hae-na, Jin Hye-jin, and Jang-gun, along with dance troupes and a children’s art ensemble, all paying tribute to the elderly survivors.
A video showcasing the “Flower Delivery of Remembrance” campaign was shared, highlighting a nationwide effort where 139 individuals or teams laid flowers at comfort women statues across the country between July 8 and 24.
Interactive booths allowed attendees to fold yellow butterflies symbolizing the souls of deceased victims and create miniature versions of the iconic Statue of Peace, which represents the comfort women.
“Although the grandmothers residing here couldn’t attend today’s event, knowing that so many people remember their pain and stand with them will bring them comfort,” said Venerable Seonghwa, the director of the House of Sharing.
He added, “We fervently hope that our collective efforts will elicit a sincere apology from Japan, helping to heal the deep-seated sorrow that the victims have long cried out about.”
The event was attended by lawmakers from both major political parties and citizens of all ages, underscoring the issue’s continued significance in South Korean society.
Of the 240 officially registered comfort women victims in South Korea, only nine survive today. The House of Sharing, once home to several survivors, saw its last three residents — Lee Ok-seon, 97, Park Ok-seon, 101, and Kang Il-chul, 96 — move to a nursing home in March due to declining health.
“This event was designed to remember the pain of the ‘comfort women’ victims and to pass on the lessons of history to the next generation,” said Kim Mi-sung, head of Gyeonggi Province’s Women and Family Bureau.
“We prepared various programs to ensure that young people, including teenagers, could participate actively and remember this history.”
Image credit: Yonhap / photonews@koreabizwire.com
