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Busan Metropolitan City to Hold 9th Memorial Day Event for Victims of Japanese Military “Comfort Women”

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Busan Metropolitan City, led by Mayor Chun Jae-soo, will hold the “2026 9th Memorial Day Event for Victims of Japanese Military ‘Comfort Women’” at 2:00 p.m. tomorrow, August 14, at the Small Theater of Busan Citizens’ Hall.

Hosted by Busan Metropolitan City and organized by the Busan Metropolitan City Council of Women’s Organizations, the event is expected to bring together approximately 200 citizens and representatives from related institutions and organizations.

The event is being held to mark Memorial Day on August 14, a national commemorative day established under the Act on Protection, Support and Commemorative Projects for Japanese Military “Comfort Women” Victims to raise public awareness of the issue and honor the victims.

On August 14, 1991, the late Kim Hak-sun, a victim of the Japanese military “comfort women” system, became the first survivor to publicly testify about her experience. In December 2012, the 11th Asian Solidarity Conference for the Resolution of the Issue of Japanese Military “Comfort Women,” held in Taiwan, proclaimed August 14 as the World Memorial Day for Japanese Military “Comfort Women” Victims.

The national government designated Memorial Day as an official national commemorative day in December 2017. Busan Metropolitan City has held an annual commemorative event since 2018, with this year marking the ninth event.

The event will consist of a commemorative ceremony in Part 1 and a cultural performance in Part 2. Admission is free and open to all citizens aged 12 and older.

During the Part 1 commemorative ceremony, a moment of silence in remembrance of the victims will be followed by a screening of the commemorative video “Memorial Day for Japanese Military ‘Comfort Women’ Victims, as Told by Star Teacher Choi Tae-sung,” produced by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, formerly the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, to reflect on the historical significance of Memorial Day.

Part 2, the cultural performance, will be presented under the subtitle “A Record of Unbroken Light.” The arts group Baegui will stage an original performance, followed by an LED candle-lighting ceremony in which citizens will participate together.

Various additional activities, including a commemorative exhibition and photo zone, will also be available in the lobby of the Small Theater.

As a related event, Busan Metropolitan City will hold “The Temperature of Memory,” a film festival commemorating Japanese military “comfort women” victims, on August 21 and 28 at the Multipurpose Screening Hall of the Busan Museum of Movies.

Hosted by Busan Metropolitan City and organized by the Busan Women’s Solidarity Conference, the festival will screen “I Can Speak” on August 21 and “Snowy Road” on August 28. Each screening will be followed by programs including a talk concert and photo exhibition.

There are currently five surviving Japanese military “comfort women” victims nationwide. No surviving victim has resided in Busan since August 2020.

Kim So-young, Director-General of the Women and Family Bureau of Busan Metropolitan City, said, “I hope this commemorative event will serve as a meaningful opportunity to restore the honor and dignity of Japanese military ‘comfort women’ victims, ensure that the courage and efforts of the victims are remembered by current and future generations, and foster a proper understanding of history.”