Suwon Mayor Lee Jae-jun: "What the Survivors of Japanese Military Sexual Slavery Want is a Genuine Apology and Appropriate Compensation"

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Jung Jun-sung] Mayor Lee Jae-jun of Suwon Special Status City emphasized, "What the survivors of Japanese military sexual slavery want is a genuine apology from Japan and appropriate compensation."

Mayor Lee attended the '11th World Day of Remembrance for Survivors of Japanese Military Sexual Slavery' event titled 'Memory is the Justice of History' held at Seomun Square in Jangan Park, Suwon on the 13th, and stated, "When we began the commemoration event ten years ago, 58 elderly survivors were living, but now only 9 remain." He added, "I hope the Japanese government will apologize to the grandmothers as soon as possible and that history will be set right."

He continued, "Thanks to citizens including the Suwon Peace Butterfly, the history of the survivors of Japanese military sexual slavery could not be forgotten." He said, "I am grateful to everyone who has stood with the grandmothers steadfastly over these ten years."

The commemorative event was jointly hosted by Suwon Peace Butterfly and the 11th August 14 World Day of Remembrance for Survivors of Japanese Military Sexual Slavery Promotion Committee, with support from Suwon City.

The 'World Day of Remembrance for Survivors of Japanese Military Sexual Slavery' is a day to honor survivors of Japanese military sexual slavery worldwide. August 14 was designated as 'World Comfort Women Day' at the 'Asia Solidarity Conference for Resolving the Japanese Military Comfort Women Issue' held in Taiwan in 2012.

August 14 marks the day when Kim Hak-sun, a survivor of Japanese military sexual slavery (1924-1997), first publicly testified about her experience as a comfort woman. She refuted Japanese government claims and exposed Japanese military atrocities.

In South Korea, when the partial amendment to the 'Act on Protection, Support, and Commemoration of Survivors of Japanese Military Sexual Slavery under Japanese Colonial Rule' was passed in December 2017, the 'Day of Remembrance for Survivors of Japanese Military Sexual Slavery,' which had been observed privately, was designated as a national commemorative day.

The commemorative ceremony, which began with a moment of silence, proceeded with opening remarks by Lee Ju-hyun, standing co-representative of Suwon Peace Butterfly, which works to restore honor and human rights to survivors of Japanese military sexual slavery; tributes by Mayor Lee Jae-jun of Suwon and Kim Ki-jung, chairman of the Suwon City Council; civic cultural performances; and a reading of the declaration for the 11th Day of Remembrance for Survivors of Japanese Military Sexual Slavery.

The 11th August 14 World Day of Remembrance for Survivors of Japanese Military Sexual Slavery Promotion Committee consists of Galilei Church, Gyeonggi Peace Education Center, Maewon Church, Suwon Civil Society Organizations Council, Suwon Women's Association, Suwon Youth and Adolescent Sexual Rights Center, Suwon Peace Butterfly Human Rights Instructor Group, Youth and Adolescent NGO An-a-ju-se-yo, Suwon Democratic Heritage Succession Project Association, and Suwon YWCA.