June 19 is the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict. On June 20, to commemorate and to prevent the wartime sexual violence, activists from the Korean Council visited the National Cemetery for Overseas Koreans in Cheonan (Hill of Mang-Hyang, Hill of Longing for home), accompanied by supporters and civil society organizations.
On the bus to the Cemetery, participants introduced themselves and shared their resolutions for the day. Before visiting the halmonis, participants heard from Lee Mi-kyung, the former secretary general of the Korean Council, about the process leading up to Kim Hak-sun’s first public testimony. Kim Dong-hee, Director of the War and Women’s Human Rights Museum, explained the lives of the halmonis who returned to Korea after liberation and the significance of the Cemetery.
Participants then moved to the Mang-Hyang House, the charnel house. On the way, they visited the memorial monument for the Japanese military “comfort women” victims established at the cemetery. At the Mang-Hyang House, participants took a moment of silence, reflecting on the lives and courage of the halmonis.
Participants moved to the burial grounds and were divided into groups. Following guidance from Korean Council activists, they carefully cleaned the gravestones, decorated new yellow butterflies, and offered flowers. They also read stories about the lives of the halmonis in each grave and observed a moment of silence.
After the commemoration, participants gathered at the grave of the late Lee Ok-seon to pay their respects and reflect on the day’s activities. The Korean Council will continue to remember the courage of the halmonis and move forward to restore the honor and dignity of the wartime sexual violence victims.
June 19 is the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict. On June 20, to commemorate and to prevent the wartime sexual violence, activists from the Korean Council visited the National Cemetery for Overseas Koreans in Cheonan (Hill of Mang-Hyang, Hill of Longing for home), accompanied by supporters and civil society organizations.
On the bus to the Cemetery, participants introduced themselves and shared their resolutions for the day. Before visiting the halmonis, participants heard from Lee Mi-kyung, the former secretary general of the Korean Council, about the process leading up to Kim Hak-sun’s first public testimony. Kim Dong-hee, Director of the War and Women’s Human Rights Museum, explained the lives of the halmonis who returned to Korea after liberation and the significance of the Cemetery.
Participants then moved to the Mang-Hyang House, the charnel house. On the way, they visited the memorial monument for the Japanese military “comfort women” victims established at the cemetery. At the Mang-Hyang House, participants took a moment of silence, reflecting on the lives and courage of the halmonis.
Participants moved to the burial grounds and were divided into groups. Following guidance from Korean Council activists, they carefully cleaned the gravestones, decorated new yellow butterflies, and offered flowers. They also read stories about the lives of the halmonis in each grave and observed a moment of silence.
After the commemoration, participants gathered at the grave of the late Lee Ok-seon to pay their respects and reflect on the day’s activities. The Korean Council will continue to remember the courage of the halmonis and move forward to restore the honor and dignity of the wartime sexual violence victims.