Crowds of South Koreans gathered outside Japan's embassy in Seoul on Wednesday to mark International Comfort Women Memorial Day, demanding a formal apology and proper compensation for Japan's wartime use of "comfort women." August 14 marks International Comfort Women Memorial Day in South Korea, honoring the survivors of Japan’s wartime sexual slavery. For nearly 35 years, activists have rallied every Wednesday, rain or shine, in front of the embassy, seeking justice for the Korean women forced into sexual slavery by Japan’s military during World War II. "Even with the rain coming down like this, seeing all of you here brings me to tears. Thank you, thank you, thank you," said Lee Yong-soo, a victim of Japanese wartime sexual slavery. This protest is one of the world’s longest-running demonstrations and has become a symbol and solemn reminder of a painful history that still shapes relations between Seoul and Tokyo. Known as "comfort women," the survivors - many now in their 90s - have spent decades seeking a formal apology and state compensation from Japan. "If we don’t speak out and make ourselves heard, people won’t listen - they hardly do even now. So rather than let this be forgotten, we keep taking action. When we do, people gather like this in great numbers," said Choi Ye-ji, a protester. With the number of surviving victims dwindling, activists emphasize the urgency to resolve the issue. "If we have will to preserve and teach the next generation, it will survive. All these organizations involved in it still continue to teach students, ordinary people through our activities and through Wednesday demonstrations, through the documents that we keep through our museums," said Shin Hei-soo, chair of the Board of Directors at the Korea Center for United Nations Human Rights Policy. Ever since the first "comfort woman" testified publicly with her story back in 1991, the message remains the same: the past may be fading, but the fight for justice is far from over. SHOTLIST: Seoul, South Korea - Aug 13, 2025 1. Protesters in raincoats holding placards, clapping hands to music; 2. Various of Lee Yong-soo, victim of Japanese wartime sexual slavery, and other protesters, holding placards and shouting slogans; 3. SOUNDBITE (Korean) Lee Yong-soo, victim of Japanese wartime sexual slavery: "Even with the rain coming down like this, seeing all of you here brings me to tears. Thank you, thank you, thank you.”; 4. Various of bronze statue of comfort woman; 5. Protesters waving flags; 6. Various of Choi Ye-ji and other protesters shouting slogans; 7. SOUNDBITE (Korean) Choi Ye-ji, protester (starting with shot 6): "If we don’t speak out and make ourselves heard, people won’t listen—they hardly do even now. So rather than let this be forgotten, we keep taking action. When we do, people gather like this in great numbers."; 8. Various of woman singing song on stage; 9. Various of protesters dancing, others clapping hands to music; 10. SOUNDBITE (English) Shin Hei-soo, chair of Board of Directors, Korea Center for United Nations Human Rights Policy (starting with shot 9/ending with shot 11): "If we have will to preserve and teach the next generation, it will survive. All these organizations involved in it still continue to teach students, ordinary people through our activities and through Wednesday demonstrations, through the documents that we keep through our museums."; 11. Various of protesters; 12. Various of protesters clapping hands to music. Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland