On January 19, a forum titled “How Should We Respond to Hate Protests in front of Schools and History Denialism?” was held to analyze hate protests and history denialism that have permeated the educational sphere and to discuss collective responses. The forum was jointly organized by the Korean Council, which participates in the executive committee of the Joint Countermeasures Committee Against Far-Right Groups Vandalizing the Statue of Peace, and the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education.
Far-right history denialists have continuously denied and distorted the historical facts surrounding the issue of Japanese military sexual slavery. For years, they have appeared at the Wednesday Demonstration, disrupting the demonstration and attempting to stop it. Beginning in February 2024, they escalated their actions by traveling across the country to visit Statues of Peace and carrying out acts of terror under the guise of so-called “challenges,” including placing “removal” masks and plastic bags over the statues.
These actions intensified further when, on October 29, 2025, far-right historical denial groups announced plans to hold hate protests in front of Muhak Girls’ High School and Seocho High School in Seoul, where Statues of Peace are installed on campus. On November 24, they proceeded to hold a hate protest in front of Chuncheon Girls’ High School.
The history denial and incitement of hatred by these groups have spread into every corner of society and have now reached schools. This constitutes a clear violation of students’ right to learn, as it deprives them of opportunities to actively engage with history and to practice remembrance of the Japanese military sexual slavery issue through their own movement.
During the forum, the Korean Council, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, teachers, and university students, each of whom has been actively working within their respective fields, shared keynote presentations and participated in discussions on how history denial and hatred are spreading throughout society and educational institutions, as well as on possible future actions.
In particular, students and parents from Muhak Girls’ High School, along with members of university student history clubs, directly took part in the discussion, vividly conveying the situation at the time when hate protests were announced by history denialists, as well as current perceptions of hatred and history among students.
Participants concluded by reaffirming their commitment to stand in solidarity to firmly confront hatred and history denial, and to strongly urge the government and education authorities to take adequate measures. The Korean Council also pledged to continue its efforts to ensure that history denialists are no longer active.
On January 19, a forum titled “How Should We Respond to Hate Protests in front of Schools and History Denialism?” was held to analyze hate protests and history denialism that have permeated the educational sphere and to discuss collective responses. The forum was jointly organized by the Korean Council, which participates in the executive committee of the Joint Countermeasures Committee Against Far-Right Groups Vandalizing the Statue of Peace, and the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education.
Far-right history denialists have continuously denied and distorted the historical facts surrounding the issue of Japanese military sexual slavery. For years, they have appeared at the Wednesday Demonstration, disrupting the demonstration and attempting to stop it. Beginning in February 2024, they escalated their actions by traveling across the country to visit Statues of Peace and carrying out acts of terror under the guise of so-called “challenges,” including placing “removal” masks and plastic bags over the statues.
These actions intensified further when, on October 29, 2025, far-right historical denial groups announced plans to hold hate protests in front of Muhak Girls’ High School and Seocho High School in Seoul, where Statues of Peace are installed on campus. On November 24, they proceeded to hold a hate protest in front of Chuncheon Girls’ High School.
The history denial and incitement of hatred by these groups have spread into every corner of society and have now reached schools. This constitutes a clear violation of students’ right to learn, as it deprives them of opportunities to actively engage with history and to practice remembrance of the Japanese military sexual slavery issue through their own movement.
In particular, students and parents from Muhak Girls’ High School, along with members of university student history clubs, directly took part in the discussion, vividly conveying the situation at the time when hate protests were announced by history denialists, as well as current perceptions of hatred and history among students.
Participants concluded by reaffirming their commitment to stand in solidarity to firmly confront hatred and history denial, and to strongly urge the government and education authorities to take adequate measures. The Korean Council also pledged to continue its efforts to ensure that history denialists are no longer active.