Changwon National University Presents Exhibition on Stories from the Film 'Herstory'

‘Gwanbu Trial and the Unfinished Herstory’

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Seryeong] In 2018, the film "Herstory" was released.

The film depicts the Kwanbu Trial, the first moment when Japan acknowledged responsibility for the Japanese military comfort women after 23 trials over six years from 1992 to 1998.

It is the result of persistent demands for apology and compensation from Japan by three Japanese military comfort women victims, seven female labor corps victims, and thirteen lawyers traveling between Busan and Shimonoseki, Japan.

Changwon National University announced on the 14th that it will present the only court ruling in a Japanese court recognizing the Japanese military's compensation responsibility through a special exhibition.

The special exhibition and academic conference titled "The Kwanbu Trial and the Unfinished Herstory" is jointly hosted by the Changwon University Museum and the Center for Sustainable Development at the Social Science Research Institute.

According to the university, the exhibition focuses on the life of the late women's activist Kim Munsuk, who inspired the film "Herstory," and the Kwanbu Trial.

The late Kim Munsuk, director of the Busan Council for the Resolution of the Issue of the Female Labor Corps, served as the lead plaintiff and succeeded in having Japan acknowledge responsibility for the Japanese military comfort women.

The university explained that after Director Kim's passing in 2021, it will showcase the results of an investigation into Kwanbu Trial-related records held at the "Ethnic and Women's History Museum," commissioned by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family.

A university official said, "The newly discovered personal materials of Director Kim and records related to the Kwanbu Trial found during the research process capture the intense moments of that time," adding, "Unlike previous perspectives on the Japanese military comfort women issue, this exhibition will reexamine the Kwanbu Trial achieved through joint efforts of Korean and Japanese citizens and consider clues for resolving the Japanese military comfort women issue in the future."

Professor Shin Donggyu of the Department of History said, "The materials contained traces and trajectories of a life that show how an individual's reflection and practice can influence the great currents of history."

Kim Juhyun, director of the Busan Council for the Resolution of the Issue of the Female Labor Corps and daughter of the late Director Kim, said, "The last words my mother left me were to take good care of the history museum," adding, "I hope this will be a starting point to remember my mother's life as a women's activist and to eternally reflect on the historical significance of the Kwanbu Trial."

President Lee Hoyoung said, "I hope this special exhibition becomes a place to understand our painful history," and added, "Such exhibitions are tasks that regional national universities must lead, so we will continue to faithfully fulfill the role of not ignoring regional pain and working together to contemplate and research for a better future."

The exhibition is sponsored by the National University Development Project and the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family and will be open for free viewing from the 15th of this month until May 19.

Visitors can also see a special exhibition of Korean Hawaiian tombstones, showcasing the lives of first-generation Hawaiian immigrants and their will for national independence.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.