2025 marks the 80th year of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. To commemorate, on July 16, religious and civil society groups in Korea launched the โPreparatory Committee for the Hiroshima 80th ย Memorial of Korean Atomic Bomb Victimsโ (hereinafter, the committee). The Korean Council also participates in the committee.
ย As the first step, the committee visited Hiroshima, Japan, from August 3 to 6, simultaneously conducting memorial activities in Korea. The memorial is not just a place to reflect on the past, but also a moment to demand apologies and truth-finding from the Japanese and U.S. governments responsible for Korean atomic bomb victims, restore the honor of the victims, reflect on the meaning of peace in todayโs wars and nuclear threats, and take steps toward solidarity, coexistence, and reconciliation in East Asia. ย
๐ August 3 (Japan)
On the first day in Hiroshima, the committee held a meeting with the Japanese preparation team to plan the event. The committee received a warm welcome in Japan and spent time strengthening solidarity.ย
๐ August 4, 2025 (Japan)ย
Before the memorial, the committee visited the Atomic Bomb Museum, participated in the Paper Crane March of the World Conference Against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs, and joined the Opening General Assembly of the World Conference Against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs.
The committee also held a Korea-Japan exchange meeting to share memories about peace and human rights with Japanese civil society activists. ย
๐ August 5, Hiroshima Memorial for Korean Atomic Bomb Victims (Japan)ย
At 1:00 PM, the committee held the Hiroshima Memorial for Korean Atomic Bomb Victims at Machizukuri Civic Exchange Plaza.
The event, organized by Korean and Japanese religious and civil society groups, consisted of three parts:ย
Special Lecture by Kim Jin-ho, President of the Hiroshima Korean Atomic Bomb Victims Association.
Religious Memorial Ceremony with Protestant, Buddhist, and Catholic participation.
Memorial Ceremony.
Kim Jin-ho pointed out that after the bombing, Koreans did not receive proper medical treatment, and the discrimination and abuse that had existed before continued after the atomic bomb and persists today. He also mentioned that in the recent Japanese Councilors election, the new party โSanseitลโ, which secured 14 seats, campaigned with xenophobia and โJapan Firstโ policies, expressing concern over the far-right trend in Japanese politics.
He criticized the Japanese government for its long-standing refusal to support foreign atomic bomb victims. He emphasized that although support has been possible after decades of struggle, atomic bomb survivors living in the DPRK still receive no support.ย
During the religious ceremony, all participants offered flowers and observed a moment of silence for the Korean victims. Short but meaningful religious rituals were performed in Protestant, Buddhist, and Catholic traditions, with representatives delivering messages wishing for non-discriminatory remembrance and the realization of peace.
Speeches and greetings were delivered by Lee Na-young, the chair of the Korean Council, Junko Otsuki, a Pastor in Japan, Woo-il Kang, the Archbishop, ย Kim Nam-su, National University Democratic Alumni Association, and Yoon ย Kang-heon, Representative of Hantongryun Hiroshima Branch.
The ceremony deeply reflected on the suffering and lives of Korean victims and expressed sincere condolences. It became a moment to console the victims beyond religious boundaries and reaffirm solidarity and memory.
The declaration clarified the direction of memory and responsibility promoted by this memorial, strongly demanding:ย
From the U.S. government: apology and truth-finding.
From the Japanese government: apology and truth-finding for forced mobilization and discrimination against Korean victims.
From the Korean government: investigation, documentation, support for survivors, and policies to restore the honor of the victims.
The committee pledged to work together through solidarity for historical justice and peace.
๐ August 6 (Japan)ย
The committee joined Japanese peace group members at the Peace Promenade in front of the Atomic Bomb Dome for a Ground Zero meeting and relay talks.
At 8:15 AM, the time of the bombing, a die-in performance was held.ย
Following the performance, the committee marched to the Chugoku Electric Power Headquarters and conducted an anti-nuclear protest and sit-in, praying for the victims and for a world free from war and nuclear weapons.
๐ August 6 (Korea)
At 11:30 AM, around 50 citizens and religious representatives gathered near the Statue of Peace in front of the Japanese Embassy in Seoul. They held a die-in memorial action for the 80th anniversary of the Hiroshima bombing and the Korean victims. (More information: Link)
The committee highly appreciated the efforts of the Hiroshima Peace Association to resolve the issue of Korean victims. In Korea, religious and civil society groups also established a solidarity body to urge:
From the U.S. government: apology, truth-finding, and honor restoration for atomic bomb victims.
From the Japanese government: accountability and compensation for the deaths of tens of thousands of Koreans due to forced mobilization.
2025 marks the 80th year of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. To commemorate, on July 16, religious and civil society groups in Korea launched the โPreparatory Committee for the Hiroshima 80th ย Memorial of Korean Atomic Bomb Victimsโ (hereinafter, the committee). The Korean Council also participates in the committee.
ย As the first step, the committee visited Hiroshima, Japan, from August 3 to 6, simultaneously conducting memorial activities in Korea. The memorial is not just a place to reflect on the past, but also a moment to demand apologies and truth-finding from the Japanese and U.S. governments responsible for Korean atomic bomb victims, restore the honor of the victims, reflect on the meaning of peace in todayโs wars and nuclear threats, and take steps toward solidarity, coexistence, and reconciliation in East Asia. ย
๐ August 3 (Japan)
On the first day in Hiroshima, the committee held a meeting with the Japanese preparation team to plan the event. The committee received a warm welcome in Japan and spent time strengthening solidarity.ย
๐ August 4, 2025 (Japan)ย
The committee also held a Korea-Japan exchange meeting to share memories about peace and human rights with Japanese civil society activists. ย
๐ August 5, Hiroshima Memorial for Korean Atomic Bomb Victims (Japan)ย
At 1:00 PM, the committee held the Hiroshima Memorial for Korean Atomic Bomb Victims at Machizukuri Civic Exchange Plaza.
The event, organized by Korean and Japanese religious and civil society groups, consisted of three parts:ย
Special Lecture by Kim Jin-ho, President of the Hiroshima Korean Atomic Bomb Victims Association.
Religious Memorial Ceremony with Protestant, Buddhist, and Catholic participation.
Memorial Ceremony.
Kim Jin-ho pointed out that after the bombing, Koreans did not receive proper medical treatment, and the discrimination and abuse that had existed before continued after the atomic bomb and persists today. He also mentioned that in the recent Japanese Councilors election, the new party โSanseitลโ, which secured 14 seats, campaigned with xenophobia and โJapan Firstโ policies, expressing concern over the far-right trend in Japanese politics.
He criticized the Japanese government for its long-standing refusal to support foreign atomic bomb victims. He emphasized that although support has been possible after decades of struggle, atomic bomb survivors living in the DPRK still receive no support.ย
During the religious ceremony, all participants offered flowers and observed a moment of silence for the Korean victims. Short but meaningful religious rituals were performed in Protestant, Buddhist, and Catholic traditions, with representatives delivering messages wishing for non-discriminatory remembrance and the realization of peace.
Speeches and greetings were delivered by Lee Na-young, the chair of the Korean Council, Junko Otsuki, a Pastor in Japan, Woo-il Kang, the Archbishop, ย Kim Nam-su, National University Democratic Alumni Association, and Yoon ย Kang-heon, Representative of Hantongryun Hiroshima Branch.
The declaration clarified the direction of memory and responsibility promoted by this memorial, strongly demanding:ย
From the U.S. government: apology and truth-finding.
From the Japanese government: apology and truth-finding for forced mobilization and discrimination against Korean victims.
From the Korean government: investigation, documentation, support for survivors, and policies to restore the honor of the victims.
The committee pledged to work together through solidarity for historical justice and peace.
๐ August 6 (Japan)ย
The committee joined Japanese peace group members at the Peace Promenade in front of the Atomic Bomb Dome for a Ground Zero meeting and relay talks.
At 8:15 AM, the time of the bombing, a die-in performance was held.ย
Following the performance, the committee marched to the Chugoku Electric Power Headquarters and conducted an anti-nuclear protest and sit-in, praying for the victims and for a world free from war and nuclear weapons.
๐ August 6 (Korea)
At 11:30 AM, around 50 citizens and religious representatives gathered near the Statue of Peace in front of the Japanese Embassy in Seoul. They held a die-in memorial action for the 80th anniversary of the Hiroshima bombing and the Korean victims. (More information: Link)
The committee highly appreciated the efforts of the Hiroshima Peace Association to resolve the issue of Korean victims. In Korea, religious and civil society groups also established a solidarity body to urge:
From the U.S. government: apology, truth-finding, and honor restoration for atomic bomb victims.
From the Japanese government: accountability and compensation for the deaths of tens of thousands of Koreans due to forced mobilization.