The ‘peace butterflies’ returned to the Statue of Peace in Seoul to participate in the 1739th weekly protest aimed at resolving the issue of the Japanese military's sexual slavery. This marked the first protest at the statue in four years and three months, as previous gatherings had been relocated due to counter-protests. Since the establishment of the Statue of Peace in 2011 during the 1000th weekly protest, these gatherings have always taken place in front of this monument until disturbances arose in 2019.

Counter-protests began in 2019 from groups who claimed that the comfort women victims were committing fraud. In November 2021, these groups began receiving permission to gather in front of the Statue of Peace, effectively pushing the regular protests away from the site. These counter-protesters engaged in activities that were derogatory towards the victims, and the leaders of these groups have actively sought the removal of comfort women statues throughout the nation.

Recently, Kim Byeong-heon, the representative of the Citizens’ Action for the Abolition of the Comfort Women Law, faced police investigation over allegations of insulting comfort women victims. Following this scrutiny, he announced a temporary suspension of their street protests calling for the ‘stop of comfort women fraud’ and ‘removal of the statues’. The return of the regular protests in front of the Statue of Peace represents a significant moment in the ongoing struggle for recognition and resolution regarding the historical injustices faced by comfort women.