Day of Remembrance for Comfort Women Approaches; 'Wartime Crimes Continue Worldwide,' Rally Declares

A rally demanding justice for victims of Japanese wartime sexual slavery took place on August 12 in Seoul, two days before the Day of Remembrance for Comfort Women. Organized by the Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance for the Issue of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan (Jeongui-donghaeng) and 222 organizations from 10 countries, the event also marked the 1765th regular Wednesday Demonstration.

Despite the hot weather, hundreds of citizens gathered outside the former Japanese Embassy in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Holding signs that read "Official Apology, Legal Compensation," people of all ages, from children to the elderly, posed for photos in front of the Statue of Peace, which was moved outside the barricades. Approximately 300 people, according to unofficial police estimates, participated in the rally.

The attendees condemned the ongoing reality of sexual violence in conflicts worldwide. Han Kyung-hee, chairperson of Jeongui-donghaeng, stated in a declaration, "Just as the Japanese imperial army occupied our country and killed countless people, turning them into victims of sexual slavery, the same war crimes are happening around the world today." The statement emphasized that the historical injustices against comfort women are not isolated incidents but part of a pattern of ongoing global atrocities.

The rally served as a poignant reminder of the unresolved historical grievances and the continued struggle for recognition and reparations for victims of wartime sexual violence. The presence of the Statue of Peace, a symbol of the comfort women's plight, underscored the ongoing demand for accountability from the Japanese government.

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Just as the Japanese imperial army occupied our country and killed countless people, turning them into victims of sexual slavery, the same war crimes are happening around the world today.