Gyeonggi Province will hold a variety of events to commemorate victims of the Japanese military "comfort women" system on August 14, the Day of Remembrance. The Day of Remembrance is a national memorial day designated to honor the victims of the Japanese military "comfort women" and to promote historical awareness.
Gyeonggi Province carries out various remembrance activities every year. This year, commemorative events with the participation of more than 1,500 residents will take place in over 10 cities and counties across the province.
First, on August 9, Gyeonggi Province and Suwon City will each hold a Day of Remembrance ceremony at the House of Sharing (located in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province) and at Hwaseong Haenggung Square. At the House of Sharing, there will be a commemorative ceremony, a bust unveiling ceremony, and a digital human performance. At Hwaseong Haenggung Square, there will be citizen-participation experience booths and a photo exhibition.
On August 13, a flower-laying ceremony at the Statue of Peace and a cultural performance will be held at the Hwaseong City Independence Movement Memorial Hall, providing a time of remembrance with citizens.
In addition, in areas such as Anyang, Osan, Siheung, Paju, Gimpo, and Gwangmyeong, various programs tailored to each city and county will be held, including flower-laying ceremonies, peace performances, and exhibitions.
To mark the 80th anniversary of Liberation this year, Gyeonggi Province will conduct a flower delivery campaign to Statues of Peace installed in more than 10 locations across 7 countries overseas, and will also introduce a real-time conversation performance using "AI Digital Human."
The AI Digital Human will make its debut on August 9, and anyone can participate. This is the first attempt by a local government in Korea to help victims and future generations share memories in this way.
Based on photos, videos, and voice recordings of a grandmother who was a victim of the Japanese military "comfort women" system, the AI will reproduce her voice and facial expressions, allowing real-time conversations with visitors at the site.
Yoon Youngmi, Director of the Department of Women and Family, stated, "Although the Day of Remembrance events are organized separately by region, they carry a unified message to share the history and significance of the victims with one voice." She added, "We hope that through these events, the voices of the victims will spread widely throughout the community, and that new methods of remembrance such as the AI Digital Human will help foster intergenerational empathy and greater historical awareness."
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