Interior ministry to hold national memorial for Japanese colonial forced labor victims

The interior ministry said Tuesday it will hold the 11th national joint memorial service for victims of forced mobilization under Japanese colonial rule on Thursday afternoon.

Ceremonies will occur simultaneously at 2 p.m. at the National Museum of Japanese Forced Mobilization History in Busan and the multipurpose hall of Seoul City Hall. The proceedings will also be broadcast live to a lecture hall at the Chuncheon Lifelong Learning Center.

Approximately 600 people, including family members of victims, ordinary citizens and students, are scheduled to attend. Organizers have invited students from Gamman Middle School in Busan to the site.

Citizens unable to visit the venues can watch the event through official YouTube channels operated by the ministry and the Japan Forced Mobilization Victims Support Foundation.

The program will begin with pre-ceremony religious rites, followed by a national pledge, readings of award-winning essays, memorial performances, commemorative addresses, and flower offerings with incense burning. Ahead of the main event, the ministry ran a pre-memorial week during the second and third weeks of September featuring a stamp tour and a quiz competition.

Yun Ho-joong, minister of the interior and safety, stated that the memorial service would be a precious occasion to fully embrace the pain of the victims and their families and correctly reflect on history that must not be forgotten. He added that he hopes the public will join in mourning so the nation can move toward a hopeful future by embracing the sorrows of the past.