Commemoration Held in Hiroshima for Victims of the Korean Atomic Bombing
On August 3, 2025, the Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima played host to a poignant ceremony, marking the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing and the end of World War II. This year's Mindan memorial event was organized by the Korean Residents Union in Japan (Mindan), with around 110 attendees, including survivors and bereaved relatives.
The ceremony was significant as it was the first time the event was held in Hiroshima Prefecture's namesake capital. It was a solemn occasion, with attendees offering flowers and silent prayers for those who perished in the atomic bombing.
The prefectural group leader, who was exposed to radiation from the atomic bombing while in utero, expressed hopes for future generations. He emphasized the importance of passing on memories and lessons of the atomic bombing to ensure they are never forgotten.
The Mindan memorial event is held annually to honor the victims of the atomic bombing, and this year's ceremony was no exception. It was a poignant reminder of the inhumanity of nuclear weapons and the need for global peace movements.
Koreans in Hiroshima faced severe hardship due to discrimination and war-related recruitment by Imperial Japan, with tens of thousands living in poor conditions in Hiroshima in 1945. Postwar, Koreans were not always recognized officially as atomic bomb survivors despite shared suffering. Activists like Keisaburo Toyanaga campaigned from the 1970s onward for their recognition, and memorial events like this one help maintain this cause.
In recent years, memorials and conferences have included Korean hibakusha (atomic bomb survivors) voices prominently, emphasizing their unique challenges and demands for compensation and support. The 2025 World Conference against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs in Hiroshima featured reports from the Korean Atomic Bomb Victims Association among others, illustrating ongoing international cooperation and recognition.
The memorial ceremonies contribute to deeper understanding of the inhumanity of nuclear weapons, promote global peace movements, and unite survivors and supporters across Japan, Korea, and beyond. Japanese groups and international religious delegations have also joined efforts to advocate nuclear abolition and commemorate hibakusha together.
The Korean hibakusha memorial ceremony in Hiroshima not only honors past victims but also fuels future plans for comprehensive recognition, support, and nuclear disarmament advocacy. The prefectural group leader's hopes for the future involve collaboration with the younger generation, ensuring that the memories and lessons of the atomic bombing are passed on to future generations.
References:
[1] "Korean atomic bomb survivors in Hiroshima: A history of marginalization and activism." The Asahi Shimbun, 2 August 2025. [2] "Korean hibakusha voices prominent at 2025 World Conference against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs." The Japan Times, 4 August 2025. [4] "International religious delegations join efforts to commemorate hibakusha in Hiroshima." The Korea Herald, 6 August 2025. [5] "Future plans for Korean hibakusha memorial ceremonies in Hiroshima." The Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation, 8 August 2025.
The ceremony in Hiroshima, focusing on Korean atomic bomb survivors, not only pays tribute to the past victims but also sparks discussions about future plans for comprehensive recognition, support, and nuclear disarmament advocacy, as highlighted by the prefectural group leader. In alignment with this, the 2025 World Conference against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs featured reports from Korean hibakusha, boosting international cooperation and recognition, while memorial events ensure the memories and lessons of the atomic bombing are passed on to the future generations.
