The 53rd National Forum on Historical Studies opened at Korea University on Friday for a two-day run.

The nation’s 17 history-related academic organizations, including the Korean Historical Association, will participate in the forum for talks on the theme of "colonialism and colonial responsibility,” as this year marks the centennial of Japan's annexation of Korea.

The participants will issue a statement urging Japan to acknowledge the forced nature and invalidity of the annexation and urge the Seoul government to continue its search for those who collaborated with colonial Japan.