House of Sharing runs English tour

The house of sharing is open to visitors Sunday to raise awareness of sexual slavery during the Japanese colonial period.

The House of Sharing is a residence in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province for eight former “Comfort Women” ― referred to respectfully as “halmoni.” It also houses a museum dedicated to human rights and sexual slavery.

The guided tour in English will explain the atrocities these women were subjected to, what they and their supporters have done to seek justice and how others can help.

Visitors will watch a short documentary about one of the women who live at the shelter and walk through the museum on a guided tour. They will then have the chance to join a collective art project to record their thoughts and messages to the women. If the halmoni are willing and healthy enough, they meet and chat to visitors.

The International Outreach Team will be preparing and sharing dinner with the halmoni. Those who go on the tour are invited to join in preparing the food and sharing the meal. Those who wish to do so are asked to let organizers know this in advance and provide a donation of 5,000 won.

The tour runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and meets at Gangbyeon Station in Seoul. To reserve a place, email the names of those attending, how many of you there are and your phone number to visits@houseofsharing.org. Attendees will then be contacted with further details.

Visitors are asked to bring lunch as there is nowhere to buy food.

The trip costs about 8,000 won for roundtrip transportation using public buses and group taxis and 5,000 won for the visit to the House of Sharing. Donations are appreciated.

(paulkerry@heraldcorp.com)