Suwon Peace Monument Erected in Suwon Olympic Park

On the 3rd, an unveiling ceremony for the Suwon Peace Monument (Peace Girl Statue) was held at Olympic Park across from Suwon City Hall.

The event was attended by Kim Bok-dong and Gil Won-ok, living witnesses to forced mobilization as Japanese military comfort women, An Jeom-soon, a comfort women victim residing in Suwon, Yeom Tae-young, Mayor of Suwon, Ko Un, poet, Yoon Mi-hyang, representative of the Korean Council on the Issue of Japanese Military Sexual Slavery for War, and members of the Suwon Peace Monument Construction Committee.

The ceremony included a gut (shamanic ritual) for comfort women victims and Sewol ferry disaster victims, unveiling of the Suwon Peace Monument, time capsule enshrining, poetry recitation, and a launching ceremony for Suwon Youth Peace Butterfly supporters.

The construction committee distributed yellow butterfly-shaped brooches, symbolizing the hope that comfort women victims would be freed from suffering and fly freely, and yellow ribbons honoring Sewol ferry disaster victims to attendees, and adorned the Olympic Park tree-lined path with yellow ribbons.

The construction committee conducted fundraising efforts for the Suwon Peace Monument, including a campaign for 100 million signatures and hosting peace concerts. More than 12,300 citizens participated in signing the construction petition, and over 70 million won in donations were collected.

Poet Ko Un donated a memorial poem to the Suwon Peace Monument, and poet Jung Soo-ja wrote the monument inscription.

Additionally, students from Yulcheon High School, Gwanggyo High School, Hwahong High School, and Hwahong Middle School formed a supporter group called "Peace Butterfly" to help restore the honor and human rights of Japanese military comfort women victims.