On May 8, marking the 1,700th Wednesday Demonstration, a press conference was held in front of the National Assembly titled, Amend the Act of Protection on Japanese Military "Comfort Women" before 1,700th Wednesday Demonstration!
Despite 32 years having passed since the passage of the Enforcement Decree of the Act on Protection, Support and Commemorative Projects for Sexual Slavery Victims for the Japanese Imperial Army (Act of Protection on Japanese Military "Comfort Women") and 1,700 demonstrations demanding justice, the Japanese government continues to deny its legal responsibility. It has failed to offer a sincere apology or reparations based on a full investigation of the historical truth.
Meanwhile, far-right historical denialists in South Korea have intensified their attacks on survivors. Recently, they went as far as publicly exposing a victim's personal information in right-wing media and even threatened to protest in front of her home.
Participants at the press conference called on the 22nd National Assembly to urgently amend the act to criminalize defamation and harassment of survivors, and to protect their dignity.
Press Statement: “1,700 Wednesday Demonstration: The National Assembly Must Act”
On May 14, the 1,700th Wednesday Demonstration takes place. On June 11, it will be 32 years since the enactment of the "Enforcement Decree of the Act on Protection, Support and Commemorative Projects for Sexual Slavery Victims for the Japanese Imperial Army". Yet Japan, the perpetrator state, has yet to deliver a sincere apology or provide legal reparations based on truth. The Korean government, which bears responsibility for protecting the victims, has remained passive as far-right groups attempt to erase wartime atrocities, including the Japanese military sexual slavery, from history. Victims have been treated as obstacles to Korea-Japan diplomacy.
Despite the survivors' courageous testimonies, delayed justice has fueled dangerous distortions of history. Since late 2019, far-right groups have appeared at the Wednesday Demonstration, hurling hate speech and slurs at elderly survivors, including statements like: "There wasn’t a single victim," "They went voluntarily for money," "You crooks!" Such attacks have spread beyond the Wednesday Demonstration. Across the country, these groups have launched "challenges" targeting memorials (including Statues of Peace), covering them with plastic bags labeled “demolition.”
They recently exposed a survivor’s personal information and announced to demonstrate outside her home. On May 7, they displayed her address on a banner at their counter-protest. Yet with most survivors now in their late 90s and few with surviving relatives, pressing legal charges is often impossible. Survivors are left vulnerable to secondary victimization, even after decades of advocacy for truth, apology, and reparations. Historical regression is now serious.
Despite these conditions, survivors and citizens have come together 1,700 times in the exact location, with the same message: truth, justice, and dignity. On this symbolic day, May 14, we declare once again that the time has come to confront hate-driven denialists. Their actions must be legally punished, and no longer be tolerated under “freedom of expression.”
Earlier this year, on February 16, survivor and human rights activist Gil Won-ok passed away. As of now, only seven survivors registered with the Korean government remain alive. Time is running out. In November of last year, more than 50,000 citizens petitioned the National Assembly to amend the current act. Five related bills are still pending in the Gender Equality and Family Committee. We urge the 22nd National Assembly to immediately amend the legislation to criminalize the defamation of survivors and attacks on statues that honor their legacy.
We will not stop marching forward, from a place of hatred to one of historical justice.
May 8, 2025
Participants of the Press Conference: “Amend the Act of Protection on Japanese Military "Comfort Women" before 1,700th Wednesday Demonstration!
Press Statement: “1,700 Wednesday Demonstration: The National Assembly Must Act”
On May 14, the 1,700th Wednesday Demonstration takes place. On June 11, it will be 32 years since the enactment of the "Enforcement Decree of the Act on Protection, Support and Commemorative Projects for Sexual Slavery Victims for the Japanese Imperial Army". Yet Japan, the perpetrator state, has yet to deliver a sincere apology or provide legal reparations based on truth. The Korean government, which bears responsibility for protecting the victims, has remained passive as far-right groups attempt to erase wartime atrocities, including the Japanese military sexual slavery, from history. Victims have been treated as obstacles to Korea-Japan diplomacy.
Despite the survivors' courageous testimonies, delayed justice has fueled dangerous distortions of history. Since late 2019, far-right groups have appeared at the Wednesday Demonstration, hurling hate speech and slurs at elderly survivors, including statements like: "There wasn’t a single victim," "They went voluntarily for money," "You crooks!" Such attacks have spread beyond the Wednesday Demonstration. Across the country, these groups have launched "challenges" targeting memorials (including Statues of Peace), covering them with plastic bags labeled “demolition.”
They recently exposed a survivor’s personal information and announced to demonstrate outside her home. On May 7, they displayed her address on a banner at their counter-protest. Yet with most survivors now in their late 90s and few with surviving relatives, pressing legal charges is often impossible. Survivors are left vulnerable to secondary victimization, even after decades of advocacy for truth, apology, and reparations. Historical regression is now serious.
Despite these conditions, survivors and citizens have come together 1,700 times in the exact location, with the same message: truth, justice, and dignity. On this symbolic day, May 14, we declare once again that the time has come to confront hate-driven denialists. Their actions must be legally punished, and no longer be tolerated under “freedom of expression.”
Earlier this year, on February 16, survivor and human rights activist Gil Won-ok passed away. As of now, only seven survivors registered with the Korean government remain alive. Time is running out. In November of last year, more than 50,000 citizens petitioned the National Assembly to amend the current act. Five related bills are still pending in the Gender Equality and Family Committee. We urge the 22nd National Assembly to immediately amend the legislation to criminalize the defamation of survivors and attacks on statues that honor their legacy.
We will not stop marching forward, from a place of hatred to one of historical justice.
May 8, 2025
Participants of the Press Conference: “Amend the Act of Protection on Japanese Military "Comfort Women" before 1,700th Wednesday Demonstration!