Peace exchange group formed by citizens of Hiroshima and Daegu, South Korea to hand down A-bomb experiences
Apr. 22, 2019
by Miho Kuwajima, Staff Writer
DAEGU, SOUTH KOREA — On April 19, a new citizens’ group was formed through a collaboration between civic groups in Daegu and Hiroshima to advance the abolition of nuclear weapons and a peaceful world. On the same day, at a hotel in Daegu, discussion took place between the Hiroshima group, called the “Hiroshima Branch of the Association of Citizens for Supporting South Korean Atomic Bomb Victims,” and the local group in South Korea known as the “Daegyeong Branch of the South Korean Atomic Bomb Sufferers Association.” The two parties agreed to work together to convey the experiences of the A-bomb survivors to younger generations and eradicate nuclear arms, as well as deepen forward-looking exchanges between the two nations.
Fourteen people from Hiroshima and 22 South Korean A-bomb survivors took part in the discussion. Han Pan-gae, 82, the chair of the Daegyeon group and Etsuko Nakatani, 69, the chair of the Hiroshima group who lives in Hatsukaichi, shook hands. Mr. Han delivered a speech and said, “Relations between Japan and South Korea are not good these days, but there are no borders for A-bomb survivors. I hope we can work together to help abolish nuclear weapons and make the world a better place.” Ms. Nakatani then said, “I hope our South Korean members will visit Hiroshima and recount their experiences of the atomic bombing as well as their lives after the war.”
Keisaburo Toyonaga, 83, who has been supporting South Korean A-bomb survivors since 1972, talked about the activities he has engaged in to date, such as helping them obtain the Atomic Bomb Survivor’s Certificate and travel to Japan to receive medical treatment. Mentioning the names of late South Korean A-bomb survivors, he stressed that their efforts had borne fruit and continue to influence the present. Lee Jongkeun, 89, a South Korean A-bomb survivor who lives in Hiroshima, also shared his A-bomb experience.
Kim Soeng Un, 77, a South Korean survivor who experienced the atomic bombing in Hiroshima when he was four, said with conviction, “I wish we had begun this kind of activity earlier. We want to involve young people in our group’s activities and do everything we can to promote peace.”
(Originally published on April 22, 2019)
DAEGU, SOUTH KOREA — On April 19, a new citizens’ group was formed through a collaboration between civic groups in Daegu and Hiroshima to advance the abolition of nuclear weapons and a peaceful world. On the same day, at a hotel in Daegu, discussion took place between the Hiroshima group, called the “Hiroshima Branch of the Association of Citizens for Supporting South Korean Atomic Bomb Victims,” and the local group in South Korea known as the “Daegyeong Branch of the South Korean Atomic Bomb Sufferers Association.” The two parties agreed to work together to convey the experiences of the A-bomb survivors to younger generations and eradicate nuclear arms, as well as deepen forward-looking exchanges between the two nations.
Fourteen people from Hiroshima and 22 South Korean A-bomb survivors took part in the discussion. Han Pan-gae, 82, the chair of the Daegyeon group and Etsuko Nakatani, 69, the chair of the Hiroshima group who lives in Hatsukaichi, shook hands. Mr. Han delivered a speech and said, “Relations between Japan and South Korea are not good these days, but there are no borders for A-bomb survivors. I hope we can work together to help abolish nuclear weapons and make the world a better place.” Ms. Nakatani then said, “I hope our South Korean members will visit Hiroshima and recount their experiences of the atomic bombing as well as their lives after the war.”
Keisaburo Toyonaga, 83, who has been supporting South Korean A-bomb survivors since 1972, talked about the activities he has engaged in to date, such as helping them obtain the Atomic Bomb Survivor’s Certificate and travel to Japan to receive medical treatment. Mentioning the names of late South Korean A-bomb survivors, he stressed that their efforts had borne fruit and continue to influence the present. Lee Jongkeun, 89, a South Korean A-bomb survivor who lives in Hiroshima, also shared his A-bomb experience.
Kim Soeng Un, 77, a South Korean survivor who experienced the atomic bombing in Hiroshima when he was four, said with conviction, “I wish we had begun this kind of activity earlier. We want to involve young people in our group’s activities and do everything we can to promote peace.”
(Originally published on April 22, 2019)
