Lee Ok-sun, 94, was kidnapped and forced into sexual enslavement by the Japanese military during World War II. She was 16 years old. She has testified too many times about the atrocity since she broke her silence more than two decades ago. She attended the weekly protest on March 24 despite the pandemic, seeking justice. Lee Ok-sun, 94, was kidnapped and forced into sexual enslavement by the Japanese military during World War II. She was 16 years old. She has testified too many times about the atrocity since she broke her silence more than two decades ago. She attended the weekly protest on March 24 despite the pandemic, seeking justice. Lee Ok-sun, 94, was kidnapped and forced into sexual enslavement by the Japanese military during World War II. She was 16 years old. She has testified too many times about the atrocity since she broke her silence more than two decades ago. She attended the weekly protest on March 24 despite the pandemic, seeking justice.

“They hit the young girls and I when we refused,” Lee said at protest. When she resisted, Japanese soldiers slit her dress, cutting her as well, she said. Blood ran down her abdomen. But that didn’t stop them from raping her, she said, her voice breaking. “They hit the young girls and I when we refused,” Lee said at protest. When she resisted, Japanese soldiers slit her dress, cutting her as well, she said. Blood ran down her abdomen. But that didn’t stop them from raping her, she said, her voice breaking. “They hit the young girls and I when we refused,” Lee said at protest. When she resisted, Japanese soldiers slit her dress, cutting her as well, she said. Blood ran down her abdomen. But that didn’t stop them from raping her, she said, her voice breaking.

At the 1484th Wednesday Demonstration, the 4-foot-tall Statue of Peace stood a few steps in front of Lee. It is a bronze statue of a young girl in traditional Korean clothes, without shoes, clenched fists, facing the Japanese the Embassy. The statue symbolizes the estimated 200,000 girls who were sex-trafficked. At the 1484th Wednesday Demonstration, the 4-foot-tall Statue of Peace stood a few steps in front of Lee. It is a bronze statue of a young girl in traditional Korean clothes, without shoes, clenched fists, facing the Japanese the Embassy. The statue symbolizes the estimated 200,000 girls who were sex-trafficked. At the 1484th Wednesday Demonstration, the 4-foot-tall Statue of Peace stood a few steps in front of Lee. It is a bronze statue of a young girl in traditional Korean clothes, without shoes, clenched fists, facing the Japanese the Embassy. The statue symbolizes the estimated 200,000 girls who were sex-trafficked.

Survivors, activists and supporters have been gathering outside the Japanese Embassy in northern Seoul every Wednesday at noon since 1992. Behind Lee were yellow butterflies that are a symbol of survivors. They symbolize the hope that survivors will become free at last from the past, which is only possible with justice. Survivors, activists and supporters have been gathering outside the Japanese Embassy in northern Seoul every Wednesday at noon since 1992. Behind Lee were yellow butterflies that are a symbol of survivors. They symbolize the hope that survivors will become free at last from the past, which is only possible with justice. Survivors, activists and supporters have been gathering outside the Japanese Embassy in northern Seoul every Wednesday at noon since 1992. Behind Lee were yellow butterflies that are a symbol of survivors. They symbolize the hope that survivors will become free at last from the past, which is only possible with justice.