Earlier this week, Korea lost an iconic figure in the fight for justice... for the victims of sexual slavery by Japan during World War Two -- the so-called "comfort women."
Kim Bok-dong, who was herself enslaved by the Japanese military, died at the age of 93.
And today, hundreds of South Koreans have gathered in Seoul to honor her in a sending-off ceremony as part of her funeral.
Their wish, they say, is for Kim, as she leaves this world, to fly "like a butterfly."
Our Won Jung-hwan is at the ceremony in front of the Japanese embassy.
Jung-hwan, what's the feeling there?
Hi Ji-yoon, it's an atmosphere of mixed emotions. Out in front of the Japanese embassy here... is a statue of a young girl representing the comfort women. Just about an hour ago, there was a massive memorial ceremony to mourn the loss of Kim Bok-dong, a victim of Japan's wartime sexual slavery.
Hundreds of people made gestures of rememberance for Kim, who is well known for her efforts to raise public awareness of the issue.
The gathering began at 6:30 this morning... at Yonsei Severance Hospital in western Seoul, where crowds have been coming to pay their respects.
And after that, people marched together all the way to the Japanese embassy here in the center of Seoul.
Emotions are mixed here... as people gather in front of the embassy for the first time during the victims' memorial ceremony and still have never received a sincere apology from Tokyo.
When she was alive, she strongly condemned Japan for not making a sincere apology,… often coming right here to the front of the embassy to demand that it compensate the victims for their suffering.
Kim traveled to various places in Europe, the United States and Japan to share her painful story.
She also spent most of her later years advocating for the anti-war movement and campaigning for women's rights issues,… becoming a symbolic figure in Korea and worldwide for her work in uncovering the truth about sexual slavery and for her active role in promoting women's rights.
Kim's death brings the number of Korean survivors of Japan's sexual slavery down to 23.
And because the remaining survivors are very old -- most are older than 90 -- it raises concerns that time is running out for them to get a sincere apology from Japan.
Thats all from me at this hour.
