Japanese wartime sexual slavery survivor gives moving speech at rally

At a rain-soaked rally in Seoul on Wednesday, 96-year-old Lee Yong-soo, a survivor of Japan’s wartime sexual slavery system, addressed over 400 supporters gathered outside the Japanese embassy for the long-running weekly “Wednesday protest.”
The demonstration — held every week since 1992 — calls for a formal apology and state compensation from Japan for the “comfort women” forced into sexual slavery during World War II. This week’s rally came just before Korea’s Liberation Day anniversary and International Comfort Women Memorial Day on August 14, marking the first public testimony by survivor Kim Hak-sun in 1991.
While Japan acknowledges its military’s involvement, it insists the matter was settled in past agreements — a stance rejected by protesters. The movement has faced setbacks, including a 2020 fundraising scandal involving former rally leader Yoon Mi-hyang, but activists say its spirit endures.
Only six registered South Korean survivors remain alive, fueling urgency to preserve the movement’s legacy as both a historical and human rights cause. Protesters vow to keep gathering every week until justice is achieved.
Credit: CGTN