On May 14, the Korean Council hosted and organized the 1700th Wednesday Demonstration to demand justice for the victims of the Japanese military sexual slavery, under the theme "1700 Winds, Becoming Flags of Peace." The event was moderated by Kim Min-joo, an activist from the Korea Progressive Alliance and the Alliance for Peace and Reunification of Korea.
This 1700th demonstration also served as a memorial for the late Lee Ok-sun, who passed away on May 11. Before the official start of the event, participants took a moment of silence to honor her memory and watched a tribute video that reaffirmed our shared resolve for an official apology and legal reparations, demands halmoni had long called for. The performance group "Project Itda" followed with a heartfelt memorial performance.
The event continued with a themed video highlighting Wednesday Demonstrations, reflecting on the declarations made at each special demonstration and the movement’s journey thus far. Lee Yong-soo, the victim/survivor and women's rights activist, joined the 1700th Wednesday Demonstration. She made a moving speech, urging the new president of Korea to resolve the issue of the Japanese military sexual slavery once and for all.
Solidarity speeches followed from Lee Soo-jin, head of the Women's Headquarters at the Democratic Party's Central Election Committee; Jeon Hyun-hee, co-chair of the Democratic Party’s Central Election Committee; Kwon Young-guk, presidential candidate of the Korean Democratic Labor Party; Kang Kyung-sook, chair of the Women's Committee of the Rebuilding Korea Party; and Kim Jae-yeon, chair of the Progressive Party. With these powerful voices, the crowd chanted together, hoping that their collective longing for a just resolution would guide future generations like a beacon through well-crafted policy.
A global solidarity video brought people from around the world into the demonstration, reminding everyone that this fight transcends borders. Members of the Jinbo College Student Network performed the dance "Wings," drawing cheers from the audience who joined in by waving their hands under the warming spring sun.
The demonstration also featured solidarity speeches by Yoon So-yeon from Seongmisan School’s Post-middle school, a student member of a historical club in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, and Jung Chan-ho, a student at Kangwon National University. Despite loud and hostile disruptions from far-right groups across the street, these voices firmly vowed to carry the future forward.
Additional messages of solidarity were delivered by Lee Eun-jung, representative of the Korea Women’s Alliance; Park Suk-woon, the Civil Solidarity for Historical Justice and Peaceful Relationship between Korea and Japan; and Ji-oh, co-executive director of the South Korean Coalition for Anti-discrimination Legislation. They pledged to carry on Lee Ok-sun’s legacy and called on the new administration to amend the Act of Protection on Japanese Military "Comfort Women". This was followed by a group performance of "Like a Rock" by the Chuncheon historical club “Nalgaejjit” (Wingbeat).
After the reading of an official statement by Lee Na-Young, Chair of the Korean Council, participants engaged in a performance titled "1700 Winds, Becoming Flags of Peace." Three symbolic flags, representing the voices of citizens calling for justice in a new era, were raised, serving as a collective reminder of the policies needed and the actions to be taken to resolve the unresolved issue.
The event concluded with a floral tribute to the late Lee Ok-sun, with all participants offering flowers in her memory. At the 1700th Wednesday Demonstration, countless flags gathered—each a wind of resistance, a wave of remembrance, and a banner for peace.
This 1700th demonstration also served as a memorial for the late Lee Ok-sun, who passed away on May 11. Before the official start of the event, participants took a moment of silence to honor her memory and watched a tribute video that reaffirmed our shared resolve for an official apology and legal reparations, demands halmoni had long called for. The performance group "Project Itda" followed with a heartfelt memorial performance.
The event continued with a themed video highlighting Wednesday Demonstrations, reflecting on the declarations made at each special demonstration and the movement’s journey thus far. Lee Yong-soo, the victim/survivor and women's rights activist, joined the 1700th Wednesday Demonstration. She made a moving speech, urging the new president of Korea to resolve the issue of the Japanese military sexual slavery once and for all.
Solidarity speeches followed from Lee Soo-jin, head of the Women's Headquarters at the Democratic Party's Central Election Committee; Jeon Hyun-hee, co-chair of the Democratic Party’s Central Election Committee; Kwon Young-guk, presidential candidate of the Korean Democratic Labor Party; Kang Kyung-sook, chair of the Women's Committee of the Rebuilding Korea Party; and Kim Jae-yeon, chair of the Progressive Party. With these powerful voices, the crowd chanted together, hoping that their collective longing for a just resolution would guide future generations like a beacon through well-crafted policy.
A global solidarity video brought people from around the world into the demonstration, reminding everyone that this fight transcends borders. Members of the Jinbo College Student Network performed the dance "Wings," drawing cheers from the audience who joined in by waving their hands under the warming spring sun.
The demonstration also featured solidarity speeches by Yoon So-yeon from Seongmisan School’s Post-middle school, a student member of a historical club in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, and Jung Chan-ho, a student at Kangwon National University. Despite loud and hostile disruptions from far-right groups across the street, these voices firmly vowed to carry the future forward.
Additional messages of solidarity were delivered by Lee Eun-jung, representative of the Korea Women’s Alliance; Park Suk-woon, the Civil Solidarity for Historical Justice and Peaceful Relationship between Korea and Japan; and Ji-oh, co-executive director of the South Korean Coalition for Anti-discrimination Legislation. They pledged to carry on Lee Ok-sun’s legacy and called on the new administration to amend the Act of Protection on Japanese Military "Comfort Women". This was followed by a group performance of "Like a Rock" by the Chuncheon historical club “Nalgaejjit” (Wingbeat).
After the reading of an official statement by Lee Na-Young, Chair of the Korean Council, participants engaged in a performance titled "1700 Winds, Becoming Flags of Peace." Three symbolic flags, representing the voices of citizens calling for justice in a new era, were raised, serving as a collective reminder of the policies needed and the actions to be taken to resolve the unresolved issue.
The event concluded with a floral tribute to the late Lee Ok-sun, with all participants offering flowers in her memory. At the 1700th Wednesday Demonstration, countless flags gathered—each a wind of resistance, a wave of remembrance, and a banner for peace.