National Movement Headquarters for Reviving the Korean Spirit Holds 18th Kyoto Mimizuka Memorial Ceremony

The National Movement Headquarters for Reviving the Korean Spirit (Chairman Lee Gwonjae), with the support of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, held the 18th Kyoto Mimizuka (Ear Mound) Memorial Ceremony on Wednesday, October 22, at the Mimizuka site in Kyoto, Japan.

This memorial ceremony was attended by officials from the National Movement Headquarters for Reviving the Korean Spirit, Kim Ryeongha, President of the Korean Council of National Religions, Lee Jihoon, Acting Consul General of the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Osaka, Kim Hyesu, Director of the Korean Cultural Center in Osaka, Lee Dongjun, Director of the Kyoto Korean Education Center, Baek Seunghwan, Principal of Kyoto International Middle and High School, and other key government officials. Major figures from the Korean community also attended, including Kim Myeonghong, Head of the Osaka Headquarters of the Korean Residents Union in Japan, Jeong Sangil, Head of the Kyoto Headquarters, Wang Cheongil, Standing Advisor, and Park Mija, President of the Korean Women's Association in Japan. Notably, prominent political figures such as Nakano Yoichi, Kyoto City Councilor, Yamanaka Yasuhide, Member of the House of Representatives, and Yamamoto Masato, Deputy Mayor of Higashiyama Ward, were also present.

Lee Gwonjae, Chairman of the National Movement Headquarters for Reviving the Korean Spirit, which hosted the event, stated, "The Mimizuka Memorial Ceremony is not merely a ritual, but a solemn pledge to confront our painful history and vow for peace so that such tragedies are never repeated." He emphasized the significance of this year's ceremony.

He continued, "So that the sacrifices of the departed are not in vain, we will deeply engrain the lessons of history in our hearts and do our utmost to ensure that Korea and Japan move beyond hatred and conflict to build a mature partnership of peace and shared prosperity."

Han Jaeu, Secretary General of the National Movement Headquarters for Reviving the Korean Spirit, added, "This year marks the 80th anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japanese oppression and the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and Japan." He said, "While we must never forget the painful history symbolized by Mimizuka, reviving the Korean spirit means moving beyond hatred and resentment toward reconciliation and coexistence."

Since 2007, the National Movement Headquarters for Reviving the Korean Spirit has held the annual Mimizuka Memorial Ceremony to honor the souls of the victims. Over 400 years ago, during the Japanese invasions of Korea, Japanese soldiers took the ears and noses of Koreans as war trophies, burying them at the site now known as the 'Ear Mound' or Mimizuka. The Mimizuka Memorial Ceremony serves to inform the public about these brutal acts committed by the Japanese army, commemorate the innocent victims of history, and pray for peace. It is a valuable activity to promote correct historical awareness, awaken the Korean spirit, and create an era of coexistence and peace.

The National Movement Headquarters for Reviving the Korean Spirit is a nonprofit public organization established in 2003 by President Han Yangwon (Korean Council of National Religions). With more than 30 branches in Korea, the United States, Germany, China, France, Japan, Central Asia, and elsewhere, the organization is dedicated to "reviving the spirit" as the spiritual root of the Korean Wave (Hallyu).

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