Song Hyung-gon, Chairman of the Gwangju-Jeonnam Unified Special City Council, pledged that the council would uphold historical truths and the values of human rights and peace while remembering the courageous testimonies of Japanese military comfort women victims.
Chairman Song (Democratic Party, Goheung 1) attended the '2026 Memorial Day for Japanese Military Comfort Women Victims' event held at Jeonil Building on August 13, reflecting on the significance of restoring the dignity and honor of the victims.
The event, organized by the Gwangju-Jeonnam Unified Special City and the Gwangju Memorial Day Promotion Committee, was themed 'From Courageous Testimonies to Steps Toward Peace and Solidarity.'
More than 300 attendees, including Min Hyung-bae, the Mayor of Gwangju-Jeonnam Unified Special City, Kim Dae-jung, the Superintendent of Education for Gwangju-Jeonnam Unified Special City, and members of the unified special city council, as well as representatives from civil society and women's organizations, gathered to honor the victims and reflect on the historical significance of the day.
In his commemorative speech, Chairman Song emphasized the historical importance of the late Kim Hak-soon’s public testimony.
He stated, “On August 14, 1991, the late Kim Hak-soon bravely broke through the walls of long-standing fear to come forward with her testimony, opening the door to truths that had been locked in silence. This became a firm starting point for restoring the dignity and honor of the victims.”
He added, “When memory becomes solidarity, it generates the power to change the world. The Gwangju-Jeonnam Unified Special City Council will carry on that noble courage and commitment to solidarity to establish historical justice.”
He also expressed a commitment to practicing the values of human rights and peace within the community.
Chairman Song Hyung-gon stated, “We will continue the spirit of the citizens of Jeonnam and Gwangju, who have listened to the voices of the oppressed and stood with the suffering to lead change toward a better world. We will faithfully fulfill our legislative duty to create a society where human rights and peace are part of everyday life and to restore the honor and truth of the victims.”
The Memorial Day for Japanese Military Comfort Women Victims commemorates the day when the late Kim Hak-soon publicly testified about her experiences on August 14, 1991. The government has designated August 14 as a national memorial day under relevant laws to raise awareness of the issue and honor the victims.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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