On the 21st, Glendale Mayor Aldesian Kasakian and officials from California, USA, visited Seongbuk-gu... Glendale Mayor, a representative of overseas cities for the Statue of Peace establishment, expressed gratitude and performed a support gesture to officials
In front of the Korea-China Peace Statue installed at the Bunsu Maru of Hansung University Entrance Station on Line 4, Kyeseong High School students presented certificates of appreciation to Glendale city officials and citizens. Aldesis Kasakian, Mayor of Glendale (first from the right in the front row), city officials, and Lee Seung-ro, Mayor of Seongbuk District (second from the right in the front row), took a commemorative photo.
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This is the achievement of students from Gyesung High School in Seongbuk-gu, who have taken it upon themselves to be “Guardians of the Comfort Woman Statue.” This time, they presented a certificate of appreciation and a Peace Lantern to officials and citizens of Glendale City, California, USA, which erected the first overseas Comfort Woman Statue in 2013.
Aldesis Kasakian, Mayor of Glendale City, and officials visited Seongbuk-gu on the 21st as part of the sister city relationship. Although not originally scheduled, upon hearing of the visit by officials from the city that first erected the Comfort Woman Statue overseas, Gyesung High School students earnestly requested a meeting, which took place at the Fountain Plaza of Hansung University Station, where the Korea-China Peace Comfort Woman Statue is located.
About 30 people, including Glendale City officials, Gyesung High School students, and Seongbuk-gu officials, attended the meeting. Student Seo-yeon Go read aloud a certificate of appreciation on behalf of Seongbuk-gu youth, expressing gratitude to Glendale City officials and citizens for greatly supporting the efforts of the Korean people to restore the honor and human rights of victims of Japanese military sexual slavery and to open a peaceful world through the construction of the Comfort Woman Statue.
The students also gifted a Peace Lantern, symbolizing the citizens of Glendale who listen to the voices of the Korean people urging attention to the suffering vulnerable and efforts for peace and human rights enjoyed by all, likening them to a light of peace. The Peace Lantern was inscribed with thank-you messages written by the students in both Korean and English, adding deeper meaning.
Aldesis Kasakian, Mayor of Glendale City, emphasized “everyone’s efforts toward universal human values” and expressed his impression, saying, “I will forever remember this wonderful gift from Korean youth.”
Seongbuk-gu Mayor Seung-ro Lee said, “When Zareh Sinanyan, then Mayor of Glendale, visited Seongbuk-gu in 2018, he expressed the limitations and concerns as an elected official regarding the persistent demands by Japanese right-wing groups to remove the Comfort Woman Statue,” adding, “We felt the need to inform our future generations about this, so we visited all elementary, middle, and high schools in Seongbuk-gu to seek teachers’ cooperation. Starting from handwritten letters to SNS challenges, the children and youth of Seongbuk-gu have played a significant role as civilian diplomats through various activities, giving us hope and pride.”
Seongbuk-gu youth and Mayor Seung-ro Lee performed a fan performance with hanji fans inscribed with messages supporting Glendale City officials and citizens, moving Mayor Aldesis Kasakian and his delegation deeply.
Certificate of Appreciation Message
To the officials and citizens of Glendale City, thank you sincerely for greatly supporting the efforts of the Korean people to restore the honor and human rights of victims of Japanese military sexual slavery and to open a peaceful world through the construction of the Comfort Woman Statue.
We will always remember the officials and citizens of Glendale City, California, USA, who joined us in our efforts to take one step closer to a peaceful world. The youth of Seongbuk-gu will continue to pay attention to women and children suffering from war and practice actions for peace and human rights enjoyed by all.
June 21, 2022
On behalf of Seongbuk-gu youth, Gyesung High School Seo-yeon Go, Dong-hyun Kim, Da-yeon Yang, Yeon-su Lee, Yu-na Lee, Go-eun Jeon, Nuri Jeong
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