The Masan, Changwon, and Jinhae Regional Citizens’ Alliance for Human Rights, Independence, and Peace and Its Politics of Memory

Key Points

• The research investigates the dynamics and characteristics of local citizens' movements advocating for comfort women rights in Changwon, South Korea.
• Analyzed the organization and disbandment of Changwon's comfort women activist groups since the 1990s.
• Combined oral testimonies from key activists with historical documents.
• Explored the local characteristics and political relations of the civic alliance.
• Local citizens actively participated in both collaborative and independent efforts regarding the comfort women issue.
• The study revealed the challenges including lack of resources and media attention, but highlighted sustained activism and memory projects.
• Demonstrated the role of grassroots activism in bridging translocal relationships across regions.

Abstract