Japan, which tightened exports of key materials to South Korea on July 4 in apparent retaliation over compensation for wartime forced labor, decided to remove Seoul from a list of trusted export destinations on Friday.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in vowed to take stern measures against Japan, describing the Japanese decision as an "undeniable trade retaliation against our Supreme Court's rulings on Korean victims of forced labor."

Japan's moves have fueled anti-Japan public sentiment in Korea, with people boycotting Japanese products and staging a widespread campaign encouraging people not to travel to Japan.

At Saturday's vigil, protesters blasted the Abe government for pursuing "militarism" through such unilateral measures and vowed to continue the anti-Japan campaign across the nation unless Tokyo puts a stop to its actions.

They criticized "Japan, an assailant 100 years ago, for apparently making an economic invasion against Korea."

The organizers said they plan to hold rallies for at least for another two weeks until Aug. 15, Korea's national holiday to mark the country's liberation from Japanese colonial rule in 1945.

On Saturday evening, about 15,000 South Korean people, who represent about 680 civic groups, marched in Seoul's central Gwanghwamun Square, marking the biggest candlelight vigil so far against Japan's trade curbs.

During the vigil, the organizers played video footage showing the testimonies of victims of Japan's wartime forced labor.

They also expressed support for the Korean government's pledge to take stern measures against Japan. (Yonhap)