Memorial Cultural Festival Held for Victims of Seongam Academy 'Child Human Rights Violations'

원본보기 아이콘

[Asia Economy (Ansan) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] The 'Seongamhakwon Memorial Cultural Festival' to commemorate and remember the victims of the Seongamhakwon child human rights violation case was held on the 1st at the old site of Seongamhakwon in Danwon-gu, Ansan, Gyeonggi Province.

Seongamhakwon was a place where, from 1942 during the Japanese colonial period until 1982, about 4,700 boys were forced into labor under the pretext of reforming vagrants and suffered human rights abuses such as beatings and malnutrition. Many boys lost their lives attempting to escape. Gyeonggi Province has been holding the memorial cultural festival on the first Saturday of October since 2016 to commemorate October 1, 1982, the day Seongamhakwon was closed.

This year's memorial cultural festival was held with about 50 participants, including victims of the Seongamhakwon case and general citizens, featuring various detailed programs such as historical and cultural exploration, memorial rites for the victims, a memorial ceremony, and commemorative events.

In particular, this year, the victims of the Seongamhakwon case planned and directly participated in the memorial rites for the victims, adding significance to the event.

Attendees experienced the hardships and sorrows of the students at the time by following the old Seongam road through the Seongamhakwon historical and cultural exploration. A survivor of the Seongamhakwon case participated as a guide, providing explanations about the victim records and historical sites related to their daily lives.

Following this, a memorial ceremony was held, and the event concluded with a memorial service and commemorative performances honoring the souls of the victims.

Kim Young-bae, chairman of the Gyeonggi Province Seongamhakwon Child Victim Countermeasures Council, emphasized in his memorial speech, "We cannot undo the pain of Seongamhakwon, but we can create change for recovery. The beginning of this is a state-level apology and restoration of honor for the victims, survivors, and their families who suffered from state violence and human rights violations."

Meanwhile, the Past Affairs Committee for Truth and Reconciliation, reestablished on December 10 last year, is currently investigating the 'Seongamhakwon Child Human Rights Violation Case.' If you were harmed at Seongamhakwon or know of someone who was, you can inquire about the truth verification application process with the Past Affairs Committee for Truth and Reconciliation.

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