WEDNESDAY RALLIES MARK 28TH ANNIVERSARY

[Anchor Lead]

Wednesday rallies staged in front of the former Japanese embassy building in Korea by the victims of Japan's wartime sexual slavery began in 1992 to demand Japan's apology and compensation. We visited the venue of the rallies, which marked their 28th year yesterday.

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[Soundbite] "28 years of Wednesday rallies! 28 years of Wednesday rallies!"

The one thousand four hundred and twenty first Wednesday rally is staged in front of the former Japanese embassy building. It has been 28 years since the rallies began. The protesters demand an apology and compensation from the Japanese government, and call out the names of each of the victims who have already passed away.

[Soundbite] "Kim Sun-deok! Lee Yong-neo!"

One of the victims of Japan's wartime sexual slavery, Lee Yong-soo, raised awareness about the issue through her testimony in front of the U.S. Congress back in 2007. She expressed her gratitude to citizens who have participated in the rallies over the past 28 years.

[Soundbite] LEE YONG-SOO(VICTIM OF JAPANESE WARTIME SEXUAL SLAVERY) : "Lies never last forever, and truth always comes out. I was able to win because of the support of people from around the world."

One of the participants of this week's rally was born in 1992, the year when the first Wednesday rally took place.

[Soundbite] PARK SO-YEON(SEOUL RESIDENT, BORN IN 1992) : "The Wednesday rallies are now the same age as me. I believe we must take a lead to solve the issue of "comfort women.""

The first rally was staged by Justice for Comfort Women in time for former Japanese Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa's visit to Korea. Ever since, the coalition has been holding rallies every Wednesday to demand Japan's apology and compensation. The organization has pledged to continue to hold rallies around the world to solve the issue of Japan's wartime sexual slavery and achieve justice and peace. This week, the protesters clashed with one of the co-authors of the controversial book "Anti-Japan Tribalism," Lee Woo-yeon, who staged a counter-rally nearby.