A Victim of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan Kim Bok-deuk's Life Story

Do Not Forget Me! A small step toward greater historical consciousness, so the next generation can inherit a peaceful world where human rights and peace flourish.

May this painful history never repeat!

Contents

A Victim of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan Kim Bok-deuk's Life Story

Do Not Forget Me!

12 The Childhood 15 Cajoled into Finding a Job 18 In a Navy Vessel As Large As a Mountain 21 I Can’t Do This Even If It Kills Me. 25 Humiko, My Name They Used to Call Me 28 I Wanted to Be a Human Being. 32 To the Philippines 33 I Can’t Die This Way. 36 Finally, I Came Back Home, but… 39 I Wanted to Be a Woman, and a Mom. 42 Trying to Live 45 Being Alone Again 47 Coming Out to the World 52 Echoing Far Away 55 Here Is a Little Money. I'm Thankful to You, so I’m Giving You This. 58 In My Next Life, I’d Like to Have a Wedding with a Bride's Headpiece. Supplement 1 About Kim Bok-deuk

62 Kim Bok-deuk's Profile 64 Articles about Kim Bok-deuk 68 The Tongyeong-Geoje Citizens’ Community with Kim Bok-deuk 70 Petition Postcards to Urge Recovering Kim Bok-deuk’s Impaired Reputation 72 Letters to Encourage Kim Bok-deuk

Supplement 2 About Military Sexual Slavery by Japan

76 What Is “Military Sexual Slavery by Japan”? 78 Historical Background of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan 80 Daily Life in the Comfort Stations 81 The Issues 82 To Live in the World of Peace and Human Rights

A Victim of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan Kim Bok-deuk's Life Story

Do Not Forget Me!

● The Childhood ● Cajoled into Finding a Job ● In a Navy Vessel As Large As a Mountain ● I Can’t Do This Even If It Kills Me. ● Humiko, My Name They Used to Call Me ● I Wanted to Be a Human Being. ● To the Philippines ● I Can’t Die This Way. ● Finally, I Came Back Home, but… ● I Wanted to Be a Woman, and a Mom. ● Trying to Live ● Being Alone Again ● Coming Out to the World ● Echoing Far Away ● Here Is a Little Money. I'm Thankful to You, so I’m Giving You This. ● In My Next Life, I’d Like to Have a Wedding with a Bride's Headpiece. The Childhood

KIM. BOK. DEUK.

This is the precious name that my father gave to me in the hope that I live a happy, blessed life. My name, however, is now engraved in history to reveal the brutal truth of Japanese imperialism and to expose their war crimes against humanity. The Japanese military ruthlessly trampled the human dignity of many young girls and women when they organized sexual slavery of these women during wartime. In 19101) , the official period of Japanese rule in Korea began. Militarily occupying it, Japan annexed2) Korea; thus, Korea lost all rights of sovereignty and Koreans lived in humiliation. The annexation established

1) On August 29, 1910, the Japan-Korea Annexation Treaty was made. It is called “Gyeongsul Gukchi,” indicating the humiliation the treaty inflicted upon Koreans. 2) In 1910, Koreans lost their sovereignty due to Japanese invasion.

12 | Do Not Forget Me! the colonial government for Japanese colonial rule. While the Japanese army occupied Korean territory, the Japanese forced all Korean public officials and teachers to wear uniforms and carry swords to create a threatening atmosphere. Korean police performances were strictly controlled by Japanese military policemen. Korean landlords were banished, and tenant farmers toiled all day with tired, hunched spines. These farmers had not a single chance to straighten their posture as they slaved away, and despite their efforts, they were also forced to relinquish most of their crops to the Japanese. Without the hope and redemption of an approaching spring, we lived our lives in harsh conditions like continual winter; all we could do was endure Japanese oppression and pillage. My hometown is the little city of Tongyeong in Hallyeohaesang National Marine Park, where you can view the Jaeseung Shrine on Hansan Island. One day in 1918, when winds blew fiercely from the sea, I was born as the eldest daughter in Dangsan, which is called now Taepyeong- dong in Tongyeong. I had a little sister four years younger than I, and a younger brother. I also lived with my young uncle and grandmother. We were all dependent on my father. Even this little village, however, was not free of the compulsory plunder and oppression by Japan.

| 13 At that time in Tongyeong, men fished at sea or farmed for a living, and women grew crops or labored at a net factory3). We were poor, but my father gave much love to me, the eldest daughter. My father, the primary source of support for our family, however, was struck with pleural empyema4). After a year of being sick, he passed away when I was only twelve. Being the eldest child, I then assumed the role as my family’s breadwinner, responsible for making a living for my household. My mother, little sister, and I all worked at the net factory. Becoming the head of a family and helping a lone parent, I left the life of my playful childhood behind, and inherited the burden of adulthood at a young age.

3) Current Chosun Mesh Net Cooperation in Bukshin-dong, 4) A disease caused by an abscess in the internal organs

14 | Do Not Forget Me! Cajoled into Finding a Job

In the 1930s, Japan used Korean territory as a logistical5) base for Japanese troops to accelerate Chinese continental invasion. After the Sino- Japanese War6) in 1937, the Japanese became obsessed with winning all other wars, and fanatically exploited Koreans. They compulsorily stripped all metal things from Koreans to make weapons. The young males were conscripted for the army and the older males were forced to work as conscript laborers. The unmarried females were carried away to become sexual slaves for the military. As a rumor about sexual slaves spread, families who had daughters of marriageable age hurried to arrange marriages or officially registered their daughters as being married before the actual marriages had taken place.

5) The discipline of planning and carrying out the movement and maintenance of military forces including distribution, transport of personnel, sanitation and so on 6) It refers the war between China and Japan that was caused by Japan’s invasion in order to conquer China.

| 15 When they heard about the rumor, my mother and grandmother were always worried about me. One day, I happened to have a chance to visit my aunt when I was off-duty at the net factory, so I went to Gangguan (the port of Tongyeong) in Hangnam-dong, Tongyeong, to take a ship to see her. As I waited to board, I watched waves bump into the shipside. “Come here and talk to me.” His face looked a little familiar. I had met him before at the factory. “Where are you going?” “I am going to Jangseungpo.” “You work for the net factory, right?” He approached me with a gentle face. “I can introduce you to a factory where you can make more money. Follow me.” “No, no. I can’t go.”

The port of Tongyeong (Gangguan) in the period of Japanese occupation

16 | Do Not Forget Me! “You can send your family a remittance. It is far better than your current job at the net factory.” The port of Tongyeong (Gangguan) in the period of Japanese occupation I was so scared that I resisted. “You just follow me! Why do you make these noises? Huh?” “I am on my way to visit my aunt. Why do you drag me out?” I was crying, saying that I did not want to go, but I was forced to board a ship headed to the city of Busan, not Jangseungpo. In a way, I was a bit curious about the new, big world where the man said I could earn lots of money, but leaving without a word to my family, I was so worried and concerned that I hung my head in tears. “What’s wrong with this girl?” Overcome with grief as I rode the ship to Busan, I barely heard the other passengers’ sympathetic concerns. This is how I was forced to leave my hometown.

| 17 In a Navy Vessel As Large As a Mountain

On the ship, there were two other girls my age, and another man traveling with me. I was scared, not knowing where I was going and whom I could depend on. The man promised me again and again that he would introduce me to a good job if I stayed calm and did not listen to others. All the time I was worried about my mother, feeling sad that I couldn’t inform her about my departure. Foolishly convinced by the man’s promises, I couldn’t help believing that I could get a good job. After our arrival in Busan, we stayed only one day in the city. The next day, we took another ship. With each passing day, I grew more anxious as I travelled farther and farther away from my home. I was 22 years old. In a

18 | Do Not Forget Me! vessel as large as a mountain, I couldn’t predict how harsh the experiences would be that awaited me. At that moment, I could only see the boundless sea in front of me. As night fell, the waves got rougher, and I became seasick. Although I didn’t eat much, I vomited all night long on that rocky ship. I couldn’t sleep due to my fears of my unknown, strange destination and the longing for my mom. Oh… Mom… does she know that I was taken by force… she must be anxiously searching for me because I vanished so suddenly – too many thoughts whirled around in my mind: Mom, I’m afraid… I don’t know where I’m going. How can I get out of here? Can I find the way home all alone? Where am I? Can I meet my mom and younger brothers and sisters again? Are they anxiously looking for me because of my sudden disappearance? I can’t understand Japanese, so I don’t know where I’m heading now. Oh, where am I going? I didn’t even consider escaping. Instead, I just spent the time, day and night, thinking about my mother and home. I couldn’t imagine what would happen to me.

| 19 Army doctors and nurses in front of a comfort station

Japanese military sexual slaves in Burma

20 | Do Not Forget Me! I Can’t Do This Even If It Kills Me.

Finally, the ship arrived at China. People said it was Dalian. The man, who came with me, drove me somewhere, and we stopped at a location where there were several two-storied houses. “Get out of the car quickly.” Frightened at an abrupt angry voice, I hurried out of the car. An older Japanese couple that looked over 50 pushed me to get out of the car. At that destination, there were a dozen rooms that looked like hakobang7) in a row, but I didn’t know the building was a so-called “comfort station.” I looked around. There were about fifteen Korean women. We talked to one another with joy. By then, I had learned that there were many Korean women who were tricked into coming here like I was. I didn’t yet know why

7) A shanty in Japanese, a small rough hut which poor people live in, built from tin, cardboard, or other materials that are not very strong

| 21 they brought young women like us to this battlefield. A dozen small wooden rooms were all clustered in a row, and a janitor put a woman into every room. I was also forced to enter one of the small rooms. The room was about the size for only one person to lie down. It was enclosed in all directions, and its front was screened off without a door. There was only bedding laid out. Sitting awkwardly on one end of the bedding, I fearfully shed endless tears. I just longed for my mom. A long night passed. Soldiers were standing guard outside the gate. BANG! BANG! Startled at the occasional sound of gunshot, no one went outside. Why did they bring us here? The morning dawned. Japanese soldiers were talking in whispers outside my room. Opening the screen door all of a sudden, a Japanese soldier in a yellow uniform entered with an impassive expression on his face. “Who are you?” He approached me slowly, took off his jacket, and untied the sword at his waist. I couldn’t say anything and just looked up at him with dread. He suddenly dropped his pants and came down on me with the intention to rape me. I was so frightened that I was shivering. “No! Get out of here!”

22 | Do Not Forget Me! I pushed him away, all the way, but my cries were lost in his indiscernible, foreign words. I couldn’t resist any longer and was helplessly raped. As soon as he put his clothes on and left, another soldier came in. Continuously, more soldiers entered – two, three, four… and one at a time, each soldier had a turn with me. After that, my skirt that I couldn’t wear properly was stained with blood. I cried all night long. Mom, how miserable am I? I can’t believe what is happening to me. I hope it is a dream. Again, I couldn’t sleep due to a longing for my mom and home. I wished what happened that day had been a nightmare. However, the horrifying acts I previously experienced continued without end. Every single day, Japanese soldiers stood in a line in front of my room, waiting for their turn. In the next room and in the next room, this same event occurred. My tears dried up, and I couldn’t even move my body. I collapsed helplessly in the face of unexpected intense pain. I begged the soldiers who tried to rape me to stop, complained imploringly to the janitor that I was sick, but it was no use. They dismissed my pleas and pain. I fainted from exhaustion, but Japanese soldiers didn’t care and just continued to rape me, and gave me their JMY8).

8) Japanese Military Yen, commonly abbreviated as JMY, was the currency issued to the soldiers of the Imperial Japanese Army and the Imperial Japanese Navy as a salary.

| 23 In the next room, I could hear an angry man’s rough voice. Coming from the same room, I heard a female voice shouting for help in Korean; both a plea for help and a complaint of pain couldn’t save her. When day broke, I was given only a hunk of rice for food. Each day I hoped I would wake from this horrible nightmare, but day after day, my nightmarish reality was repeated. It was irreversible and too late for regrets. There was nothing that I could do. Oh, something like this can happen to anybody. I can’t do this even if it kills me.

24 | Do Not Forget Me! Humiko, My Name They Used to Call Me

There I was Humiko, a “comfort woman.” Humiko led a miserable life. I had to thoroughly follow the rules for sexual slaves. On weekdays, Japanese army soldiers usually visited me, and on Saturdays and Sundays senior officers did so. I served over ten soldiers a day, and when troops poured in, I had to serve countless soldiers. I had no time to wear clothing, eat, or rest on such a day. I had no energy to notice my visitors and couldn’t remember their faces. I was stunned and ashamed. Although soldiers gave me their JMY as a price for my sexual services, the janitor took it back in the evenings, so I couldn’t spend any of it, and I was unable to save any money while I stayed there. Sometimes, I could get some pocket money when I met someone generous. I became friends with other Korean women. We ate in a group every morning, and we did our laundry or cleaning individually. Skipping lunches was common when we were busy serving Japanese soldiers.

| 25 A pass to comfort stations

The front view of the Yangjia comfort station in China

26 | Do Not Forget Me! All the women were about the same age. Some of us were married, and there were some who even left their children back home. Raped by Japanese soldiers every day, I couldn’t even dream of getting married, so I envied some married women and wept over my situation in deep sorrow. During holidays, to entertain and comfort Japanese soldiers, we performed. Sometimes I drank before dancing because I couldn’t take it sober. On the stage, I poured out my sadness as I sang Japanese songs in Kimono and humored Japanese soldiers like a plaything. See, soldiers, do you want to go home? I want to go home too. I want to see my mom. I don’t know how I came to follow that man who brought me to this miserable situation.

| 27 I Wanted to Be a Human Being.

I spent a year in a nightmare, unable to awaken. I had no chance to get away. Many people, unable to overcome the pain, occasionally tried to escape, but they were caught and shot dead. The little hope that I might avoid providing sexual services during my periods was shattered. I had to serve soldiers, inserting a wad of cotton (instead of a tampon). I was no longer treated as a person. I had terrible worries about pregnancy because some of us became pregnant. Japanese soldiers were supposed to use “Sakku9)” but some soldiers didn’t want to use it. I had no energy or spirit to resist them anymore. A pregnant sexual slave was merely a nuisance that couldn’t work at the comfort station any longer. Japanese soldiers ruthlessly killed the pregnant

9) A barrier device commonly used when Japanese soldiers had sexual intercourse with sexual slaves during the Pacific War

28 | Do Not Forget Me! by shooting. To avoid being killed, some women skillfully concealed the fact of being pregnant, but it was eventually revealed when their belly expanded. In those instances, Japanese soldiers delivered the babies at a hospital and took the babies somewhere. After their births, the mothers were never informed where their babies went, and the mothers were forced to return to the comfort station and serve Japanese soldiers again. It was a terrible reality. Although I witnessed such severe mistreatment with my own eyes, I couldn’t believe it actually happened. We were neither women nor persons; we were just mindless outlets for Japanese soldiers’ sexual desire. The Japanese army provided thorough gynecological exams for us because they were concerned that venereal diseases weakened the military’s combat capability. On Sundays we went to a hospital outside the military, where we had our womb checked and got tested for venereal diseases. We had an injection to prevent and treat venereal diseases and were given a medicinal powder to scatter over our vagina. We also received an injection to prevent pregnancy. To prevent infection and serious illness, I tried to have an injection as regularly as possible. I was checked once a week and had 60610) injected

10) Compound 606, also known as Arsphenamine and Salvarsan, is a drug that was introduced at the beginning of the 1910s as the first effective treatment for syphilis and was the first modern chemotherapeutic agent. It’s not used now because of its considerable risk of side effects.

| 29 into my forearm veins. Each time I was injected, the pain was severe. One day, something was wrong with me. There was a big lump in my groin, most likely caused by a mixture of providing sexual services every day, scattering a medicinal powder, and having a series of injections. While having an operation to remove the lump, I shed tears with worry that I might not become a mother someday. Exposed to a poor environment even after the surgery, I was unable to recover fully and ended up fainting on the bathroom floor of the hospital. I didn’t come around even when cold water was thrown on my face. It seemed as if my mind were somewhere else - I was like a dead body. Luckily I survived, but two weeks after the surgery I still had to serve soldiers. It made me shudder. How can a person do such a thing to another? I’m sick and tired of being injected and serving soldiers. What do I live for? I got tired of living. I was dying every day without hope.

30 | Do Not Forget Me! Japanese soldiers waiting in line outside of a comfort station

Sexual slaves entertaining soldiers (singing or dancing at a party)

Japanese military sexual slaves captured by the Allied Forces at sung shan Mountain in China | 31 To the Philippines

Many hopeless days passed, and those days amounted to almost three years. The man who took me here in the first place showed up in front of me again. He forced me on a train to Sinuiju, through Bongcheon. I was also forced to have a medical examination and then the man took me to a port to board another ship. I got on the ship with anxiety. After a good while, the ship arrived at the Philippines through the open sea. Although it was hot and humid, my mind froze. The man took me to a strange-looking, wooden house. The house was not like the previous one in Dalian. This house was two stories high, and its base sat on a pile of stacked blocks. At this location, there were twenty women near my age, the majority who were Korean, and one or two who were Japanese. A Japanese couple managed us all. The surroundings were quiet with no private houses nearby. Only soldiers were seen from time to time. Once again, I started a weary life in a strange place.

32 | Do Not Forget Me! I Can’t Die This Way.

A kind officer visited me every vacation he had. Within groups of beasts, he was someone who pitied poor people like us. Whenever I felt lonely or wanted to see my mom, I begged him to free me from the house. I used all my instinctual feminine charms to try to convince him. He frequently visited me because I was smart and learned Japanese more quickly than others. He treated me not as a plaything but as a human, and that comforted me a little during the hard days. Sometimes I looked around the outside of the comfort station with him. Sometimes we went out for a walk to a nearby place and I tried to forget my sufferings by eating and drinking. I even tried such tropical fruits as bananas, but they didn’t suit my taste. I just wanted to go home, so I pleaded with him at every opportunity. “Officer, I want to see my mom. Please let me get out of here.” “Humiko, you could get in big trouble if you were to escape rashly.”

| 33 “I can afford to die. Please let me get away from here.” “Stop attempting an escape in a clumsy way or you will die just like a dog. Trust me and just wait.” He was right. Some Korean women who could no longer tolerate their lives in the comfort station were caught attempting to break out of it. Then Japanese supervisors had the soldiers execute them in full view of the other sexual slaves. “Look! They met their death like that because they tried to run away. You will be shot if you do something like that too. Got it?” That’s right. I do not want to be killed in an attempt to flee. If I attempted a clumsy escape, I would die like an animal. I am the only person who will suffer. Dying here has no meaning. The desire for life came out even in misery. Yeah, I will survive somehow. I can’t die this way. A miracle happened to me after I spent three years incarcerated there. One day, the kind officer informed me I might have an opportunity to get away from the comfort station. I kept asking over and over again, unable to believe that an escape opportunity could exist. I was overwhelmed with happiness that I cried silently. He tried to soothe me and instructed me to prepare for departure. Home – I could return home – where I visited in my dreams every night! I yearned to return home each day, as I reminisced of

34 | Do Not Forget Me! the cold sea breeze there and the safety and warmth in my mother’s warm arms. Finally, the day came. I sneaked away as a passenger on a large ship and left the nightmarish comfort station behind. All the cells in my body and mind came to life once again, which had been as cold and hard as a rock for three years. In a moment of great excitement, anticipating the joy and relief of my return home, the ship rolled heavily with a sudden loud bang. Absolute chaos erupted throughout the ship. There had been an explosion in the stern section. The wrecked ship was in danger of sinking, but we were able to reach a nearby island safely. I didn’t know the exact location of that island. It was somewhere a bit apart from, but not completely out of, the Philippines. We looked for a place to stay. We found an empty house in the woods, and I stayed there with two other women. After a few days, Japanese soldiers came. They gave us something to eat and stayed with us.

| 35 Finally, I Came Back Home, but…

I lived on that island for about one year, desperately missing my home. Finally, we were able to join a large warship with the help of the Japanese soldiers who had stayed with us. In the four-storied warship, there were mostly soldiers, but also several civilians. A few days later, we arrived at the port of Nagasaki, Japan, and awaited a ship for Korea. The voyage home was so long. Five days later, I boarded a ship for Busan at last. I could relax because the ship was larger and more comfortable, and the passengers were civilians, not soldiers. I arrived at Busan, spent a night there, and got on a ship for Tongyeong. The moment I got off the ship and smelled the sea at Gangguan, I eventually gave way to my tears. Seven years had passed since my departure. I felt like all the people in my hometown were my family and came out to greet me. I found a familiar face in front of my house. “Mom!” The word that I had cried out before so many times in my mind now became animated as it slipped out of my mouth. The woman, however, didn't recognize me and turned her eyes toward something else. I grasped her hands

36 | Do Not Forget Me! without hesitation and simply repeated the same word, "M-o-m… okasang (mom in Japanese)." The woman stared at me, then frantically jumped, and at last said, "Who on earth is this girl! Is this Bok-deuk? So it is!" "M-o-m, yes, yes, okasang." In one glance, I recognized my aunt who closely resembled my mom. Due to the long use of Japanese, the first word that came out of mouth was “mom,” with the word “aunt” just on the tip of my tongue. My aunt and I then started to cry for a good, long while. After our greeting, my aunt and I entered the long, dark tunnel of the seven- year history spanning the time period of my disappearance. She said that my mom had died from an illness soon after I had vanished. She said my mother used to look blankly at the sea, awaiting and missing me. Despite seeing my mother’s mortuary after my return, what was then just days before the three- year-mourning period was over, I still couldn't believe my mother’s death. I had missed her so deeply, but strangely enough, my eyes didn’t shed a single teardrop. I was numbed by the fact that I could neither touch nor be embraced by her ever again. But then again, it might have been better this way, so that she did not have to bear the sight of my ragged and disastrous condition in which I finally returned home. My little brother was said to have gone to Japan after I was sent to China, and his wife worked for a net company. My little sister was said to have married and moved to Namwon in Jeolla-do. Although I had been absent as the head of household, my family desperately struggled to live, barely scraping by.

| 37 When I returned to my hometown, the sky, the sea, and the people were still there as they used to be; I was the only thing that had changed. Although soldiers no longer used and abused me, my body and heart still stung deeply; worst of all, I suffered from bitter pains of loneliness. In spite of my broken, hollowed body, and the absence of my mom, I had to face the challenges of daily life. I often felt as if I stood at the very edge of a steep cliff. Now I had to make money in order to put the food on the table, but there was nothing that I, being illiterate, could do. Besides, the way people looked at me, once a sexual slave, tormented me all the time. After the death of my uncle who lived in Dongpirang village, my aunt, her son, and his wife decided to live together with me by making a living through selling fish. It was rather fortunate for me to join with them. On the other hand, I was still unable to visit my younger brother and his wife; I was not in the position to play an elder sister role. Still, nothing in the old lifestyle had changed. People seemed preoccupied with merely living day to day. In contrast, as I looked at dying limp fish, I felt they were just like me and had no inducement to do anything. At the cost of losing my country to Japanese imperialism, my life was tragically trampled, and so there was nothing for me to reclaim after my country was liberated. It was futile to cry out and beg for the return of my glorious youth, my crystal-clear soul, and my dearest life. After my aunt whom I leaned on passed away, I was all by myself. I hadn’t even reached my 30s. However, my life was just like death, as if I had lived almost 90 years.

38 | Do Not Forget Me! I Wanted to Be a Woman, and a Mom.

In the neighborhood, there was a woman who took care of me very well. I was grateful for her because she thought of me as a hardworking but pitiful woman even though she knew all about my miserable past. Because she was an older, supportive female, I considered her like my aunt or mom. She would root for me, and as a result, I relied on her. One day, the woman said carefully, "Aren't you going to get married? You are so young and should marry someone." "Get married?" Marriage was not my thing, and thus it was a totally strange word that I had never thought of before. At that moment, the flicker of horrible days in the comfort station crossed my mind. "How can I possibly get married with this body...?" "Why not? Who blames you? Who says that it is your fault? Besides, those days are all behind you, and you should think of your future to live.

| 39 There is a man I know well that I want you to meet. Why don't you see him?" Soon, the woman introduced me to her male cousin, but he already had a wife and children. Upon learning that the man was currently married, I realized that that meant I would be a second wife. Thus, I could be considered a sort of concubine in that family. No matter how wretched my life is, for my life, how could she... Terrible sorrow welled up in my heart, throbbing with painful memory. Since I had already considered myself incapable of marrying, I immediately denied any further relationship with my neighbor’s cousin. But a few days later, something preposterous happened. That man, my neighbor’s cousin, came to my home without warning and raped me. Since that day, he started to parade himself as my husband. At the age of 29, I had the unfortunate destiny of becoming a concubine of a man who was more than 15 years older than I. My husband and I set up a home in Gosung near Tongyeong. Gosung was a smaller fishing village than Tongyeong, but I earned a living by selling fish. I also helped raise the last son of his first wife. Although the days were weary and no familial affection existed between us, my husband and I managed to live by farming at first. My husband, however, was a severe alcoholic, thus abusing and battering me all the time. Even though I didn’t expect any goodness from starting a family in the first place, his addiction and abuse was too cruel and painfully tough for me.

40 | Do Not Forget Me! The only person who cared for me well was his first wife. She was in the same boat with me, so she knew better than anyone the agony that I suffered. She cried with me and embraced me, and I was so thankful for her company and support. Soon, she and I were more like sisters; we became closer to each other than either of us was to the husband. Although I didn’t experience any conjugal love, I finally became pregnant. It was so miraculous that I was extremely happy, but I miscarried only four months after I had conceived. I guessed that my miscarriage occurred because it was my first pregnancy, but the next time I conceived, I miscarried again in the same period of time; both my babies could only survive four months. Had the years of injections from the comfort station disrupted my pregnancies? Were those drugs now a toxin that took two lives away? It seemed that all the suffering from my disgusting past persisted into my current life and was now harming my babies. The loss of my babies left me utterly bereft. Caused by writhing with lament, I discharged much blood several times. Since then, I could never become a mom again.

| 41 Trying to Live

Bitterly, time flew by, as it always does. My family moved to Taepyeong-dong in Tongyeong. By this time, I was in my 40s, the first wife’s son had become a high school student, and my husband was suffering from Tuberculosis and alcohol addiction, in addition to losing his eyesight. My ill-stricken husband sold all the fields and paddies in order to pay for his medical expenses, and also spent every penny I earned from selling fish. I don't remember when it started, but my husband began to beat me more severely. As time went by, the number of strikes increased, and with it, their intensity increased as well. There were many reasons why I “should” be hit: my past, my miscarriages, his illness, failures in business, etc. All of which were not my fault, but he always blamed me for such things. "That's all because you are such an awful and unlucky woman." In all my life, I had never been hit so hopelessly by anyone - never in my childhood or in the comfort station. In the comfort station, at least

42 | Do Not Forget Me! I knew I would not be hit if I did whatever they wanted me to do and did not turn on people there; regarding my husband, those rules of conduct simply didn't apply. Regardless of my attitude toward him, he habitually hit me whenever he felt inclined to do so. Usually, he slapped me around my ears. As my abuse increased, so did my deafness. I was hit without any protection. I bore it with clenched teeth while thinking what I had done wrong to deserve such treatment, and I wondered when the blows would cease. Over the long years of suffering in my life, not only my body, but also my mind, endured countless bruises. As the harsh abuse by my husband, a mammoth debt, and an inveterate disease got worse, my heavy burden of distress increased day by day. My future had not a hint of daylight – there was only darkness. I can't take it any more. I’m too weary to endure. I want to quit. I decided to run away in order to let go of everything. I asked for help from one of my friends whom I was not that close to. One day, around evening, he picked me up in his truck and took me to Gosung. At a small inn, I tried to sleep, wondering if I could truly escape the terrors of my husband. Although I eventually fell asleep, severe pain in my side suddenly awakened me. After fully waking, I found my husband holding a big rod in his hand and huffing furiously with reddish eyes. He was

| 43 a ferocious brute looking at his prey. A man named Soon-jung had snitched on my neighbor and me; Soon-jung had been suspicious of my behavior when I tried to steal away from Tongyeong. I screamed out because my husband’s eyes beheld a murderous look. Immediately, my friend, who had been sleeping in the next room, ran into my room and started to bite at my husband upon seeing me knocked out. “What are you doing? You can talk! How dare can you beat her almost dead! Oh, my god, what should I do for her?” With a defiant attitude, my husband became more steamed and beat us both to a pulp, even with his bad, blurry vision. I clung to my dear life, and madly escaped the room, dragging my benumbed body. My husband immediately took after me and hit me badly on the head with the rod. Warm blood poured down my face and wet my clothes in only a minute. At that moment, my friend was nowhere to be seen, but the man Soon-jung suddenly turned up and held me tight. My husband browbeat him, "Take her to a hospital right away! Oh, wait! It may not open on Sunday. Just go to the pharmacy then." Shaking my bloody head, I said, "No need to go to a hospital or a pharmacy. Take me to the police station." In the end I was taken to the pharmacy and the bleeding was stopped, but I couldn't keep myself steady. My husband managed to drag me home. From that day on, I began to wither away, closely supervised by my damnable husband.

44 | Do Not Forget Me! Being Alone Again

Eventually, my husband and I lived nonchalantly because we were exhausted by finding fault with each other. At that time, his son was in his 20s, and I was soon 50 years old. My husband was helplessly decaying as he aged. One day, using trees that I had cut down from the mountain, I chopped firewood. I looked for my husband because my old sick arms and legs were not working well. My husband, who often kept to himself, must have been around somewhere. "Fire! Fire!" Suddenly, loud cries were heard all around, and the fire spread near the pharmacy. People gathered noisily and rushed toward the fire. I joined the crowd and found my husband standing right next to the blaring flames. Unfortunately, a big fireball shot and

| 45 struck his leg, and he was taken to the Red Cross Hospital for immediate medical treatment. Strangely, however, the burn did not heal properly, and later he developed a heart disease, too. After a few days, he finally died. There were times that I tried to leave him whenever he treated me badly, but now he was gone before I left him. Although my husband and I shared a loveless marriage for about 20 years, he was still the source for me to live another day. He gave a reason to survive each day, not looking back or looking ahead into the future. I was all by myself again. And I felt like there was nothing to live for. For what do I live now? A few years after he died, his first wife also passed away. May she rest in peace! I thank her so much for taking care of me all that time. After she had gone, her last son and I were the only family still alive. Although he was not my biological son, I became very close to him. Various memories flashed through my mind. The old days were like this: laughing together when he took his first steps and picking him up from school when it rained. Before I knew it, I had become very attached to him. He was the only family that I had left. Since he got married, I wished to live well with him and his wife. We were poor but lived life to the fullest, depending on each other.

46 | Do Not Forget Me! Coming Out to the World

The time of loneliness flew by, and by now I was in my 70s. The stomach trouble that developed in the comfort station became worse, my arms and legs were too sick to move, and my heart was not good, either. The thing that troubled me most was the shame that persisted from the countless raping by Japanese soldiers, even decades later. I wanted to live as a woman and a mom like ordinary women, but the reality that I never could still made me sob. Regardless of my sorrow, I had to live. I worked hard, relying on my son and his wife. I felt happy to have a son who always complimented my dishes and ate scrumptiously, and a daughter-in-law who was just like my daughter. I was also happy because I met my dear Jung-yi again. Like me, she spent her days in a comfort station, first lured there by the false promise of acquiring a lucrative job. After finally returning home from the comfort

| 47 station, I lost contact with her due to the burden and pain of life, but I met her by chance years later. She and I had been through the same suffering, so that we truly understood each other. We cared for each other better than anyone else. Jung-yi recommended that I register myself in the government program for the victims of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan, and it was then that I could receive a government subsidy. Around that time, the world became boisterous over news about the Military Sexual Slavery by Japan. Numerous testimonies appeared on TV and in newspapers: "We shall never die in peace. The Japanese government says that a comfort station was a ‘public toilet’ for the Japanese soldiers to satisfy their sexual appetites. Our human rights were brutally trampled by Japan. We were completely treated as their inanimate tools. Why should we be snubbed again? My life has been ruined by them." I felt choked up with something hot in my heart. Knowing the pain better than anyone, I wanted to share it with other survivors, so we could bond together, but I lacked courage, and I felt helpless once again. What could I say to the public when I am not well-educated? How would my family react to my testimony? Most of all, I felt it would be better to keep the pain to myself until I die, considering that my family might get hurt by my past. By that time, the Japanese government and lawmakers made reckless remarks about the sexual slavery issues as if they were sneering at me.

48 | Do Not Forget Me! My first thought to continue to hide the pain within myself had changed completely. Now I had nothing to lose anyway. In August 12, 2003, I took part in the Special Wednesday Demonstration11) that was held to commemorate the National Liberation Day at the Embassy of Japan in Seoul. It was physically and mentally demanding for me to take a long distance trip from Tongyeong to Seoul and attend a rally with a big crowd, but the day's meeting was very meaningful, and it changed me a lot. Those who attended the meeting were no longer ashamed of their past because it was the Japanese, not us – the victimized women - who should be shameful of their misdeeds. At last, I plucked up my courage by attending this meeting. In September of 2007, I attended an exchange meeting held in Nagoya, Japan. At the meeting, I was introduced by a Korean resident in Japan. It was not easy work for me to give the testimony of my past life in the homeland of my perpetrators. I overcame my fears by recalling the faces of the victims who were passing away. I wondered what would be written in history if all these victims died and their stories remained untold. Although I still shuddered when thinking of Japan, I hardened myself to finally tell my poignant life story.

11) The regular Wednesday Demonstrations were formed as of January 8, 1992 when Kiichi Miyazawa, the former Prime Minister of Japan, visited Korea. These demonstrations protested to resolve issues regarding the Military Sexual Slavery by Japan. The demonstrations have demanded that the Japanese government recover impaired reputations and restore human rights to the victims as well as ascertain the historical truth and fulfill all responsibilities for related issues.

| 49 “Actually, I was never educated well, so in front of a big audience, I have no idea what words I should start with. When I was 22 years old, I became a military sexual slave by Japan when I was deceived by a lie that I could secure a lucrative job. The life in the comfort station was a downright living hell. I had to serve dozens of soldiers a day and I became a sheer wreck. Fortunately, I was able to return to my homeland before the liberation day, but I couldn't live like a decent human because of my deep-rooted shame. Besides, my experiences as a sexual slave robbed me of the ability to give birth and become a mother. Now I always dream of the next life. In my next life, I wish to marry a man and have my own babies. I wish I could be born as a woman and live the life of a mom from the very beginning. Hopefully, if I am granted a humble, sincere apology from the Japanese government before I die, I will no longer have regrets in this life, and I can eventually close my eyes in peace.”

Participation in the Special Wednesday Demonstration held in August 12, 2003, to celebrate the Liberation Day

50 | Do Not Forget Me! When my testimony ended, many Japanese women started to weep, and an unknown Japanese man and a woman made an apology to me. Many Japanese expressed their condolence, which encouraged me. Realizing that silence does not keep everything, I made up my mind to stand up to the world by raising my voice on the issue of the Military Sexual Slavery by Japan.

| 51 Echoing Far Away

Through many interviews with the press, I've become known to the public since attending the exchange meeting in Nagoya, Japan. I still feel uncomfortable about the public attention, but I have been greatly encouraged by so many words of consolation. In 2010, 100 years after the nation was lost, I made another step forward in the campaign against Japan to encourage the country to admit its misdeeds. Carrying about 21,000 petition postcards, all written by citizens and students in Gyeongnam province, about Japan’s Military Sexual Slavery issue, I visited Japan. Among thousands of postcards, one card by a certain student especially touched my heart.

52 | Do Not Forget Me! “Hello! Mr. Lawmaker, the reason why my friends and I are writing this letter is for old ladies who were once military sexual slaves. They are waning rapidly due to waiting their whole lives for the settlement of the issue. Since I know that we cannot resolve this problem with our caring minds alone, I would be grateful, if you admit culpability on the issues of the Military Sexual Slavery by Japan and legislate compensation for victims. Being able to approve a nation's past misdeeds and rectify them is a crucial responsibility of developing a mature nation as well as enhancing the nation's status through economic growth. Thank you.”

An interview for delivering petition postcards, 2010

| 53 When I visited a Japanese lawmaker to deliver the petition postcards in person, I entreated him for political acknowledgement and compensation. “As those people around me have endured the scars of this issue for many years, it is my greatest desire to resolve this issue before I die. Please take care of this properly.” On November 14, 2011, the 1,000th Wednesday Demonstration was held in Tongyeong, which had the most victims of the military sexual slavery. The rally was preceded in Gangguan, the historic place of bitter grief. Countless citizens and students gathered and a thousand people made a human chain along the seaside with each holding a placard in hand. I stood in the very middle of the 1,000-person chain, and I lit the candle of hope, which united us all in one cause. Still, the hardships and scars I’ve endured in my life cannot be compensated by anything; thus, what Japan did to me can never be forgiven. However, as I looked around at all those young students and citizens united together with me despite the freezing cold weather, the only thing that came into my mind was an earnest wish that my cry to Japan, though small, would echo across the Japanese Islands.

54 | Do Not Forget Me! Here Is a Little Money. I'm Thankful to You, so I’m Giving You This.

I have been pinched for money in my whole life. Fooled by a lie that I could make a lot of money, I became a victim of Japan’s Military Sexual Slavery. Despite my torment and abuse, I was denied earning money. I returned back to my hometown empty handed and the life there was burdensome as well. I had saved some money by dealing in meat, all of which I spent paying my husband's debt. I also suffered from getting separated from my lovely family. Amidst my poverty, the only comfort from loneliness was the visit every weekend by high school students. They did the laundry for me and ate with me, and we talked with each other. “You are busy with studying, aren't you? Why do you come every weekend? You don't have to come next weekend. Instead, take a deep rest at home.”

| 55 Despite my saying this, they happily came to me and we sometimes went on a picnic together. I felt not only sorry, but also thankful for them. Also, I was glad because they became like grandchildren to me. You have many dreams and hopes now. How wonderful your life is! Hu… Thinking how my trampled dreams could be compensated, I decided to donate all of my money I had saved little by little to the Tongyeong Girls High School. I wanted to help students, who had economic difficulties, to study hard and achieve their dreams, although my money was not that much. In April 2012, I delivered a scholarship to two students at the principal's office. It was pitiful to listen to the stories about their family's situation, so I held their hands warmly and firmly. I told them, "I am not educated. I want you to learn and study a lot. I couldn't collect much money although I tried hard. Here is a little money. I'm thankful to you, so I'm giving you this. Please, take this."

56 | Do Not Forget Me! Delivering the scholarship to Tongyeong Girls High School

| 57 In My Next Life, I’d Like to Have a Wedding with a Bride's Headpiece.

I'll be 100 years old in just five years. There isn't a sound part in my body. I can't hear well. My legs hurt, so it’s quite hard to walk. The other victims of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan and I have depended on each other, laughing and crying together, but they have died one by one, and my younger brother died too. What's more, Jung-yi, my dear friend who gave me the biggest support, died too, and I was left alone. Looking back upon my younger days, they were stained with wounds of violation in a faraway foreign land. After I came back to my hometown, I still couldn't live like a human being in spite of my struggle. I couldn't get married with a good man and I had lived as a concubine for half my life. Besides, I couldn't give birth to my own baby. As a human being, a woman, and a mother, my life has been a series of sorrows.

58 | Do Not Forget Me! My last wish is this: “I will lie down my life's burden and rest in peace if, during my lifetime, Japan apologizes and compensates for the military sexual slavery they committed. I’d also like to put on a pretty headpiece in my next beautiful life. In addition, I’d like to have some children with a nice man and live in harmony with them. I really envy the people having children.” To live an ordinary life like this, that's all that I want for my next life.

| 59 victimized as sexual slaves systematically and compulsively… During the Japanese colonial period, girls in bloom of womanhood were Could you hear? The sound of their agony….

Could you hear the sound of their agony? (Park Ju-seon, a first grader at Changwon Towol High School)

60 | Do Not Forget Me! A Victim of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan Kim Bok-deuk's Life Story

About Kim Bok-deuk

Supplement 1 ● Kim Bok-deuk’s profile ● Articles about Kim Bok-deuk

● Tongyeong-Geoje Citizens’ Community with Kim Bok-deuk

● Petition postcards to urge recovering her impaired reputation

● Letters to encourage Kim Bok-deuk Kim Bok-deuk's Profile

•1918. She was born in Taepyeong-dong, Tongyeong. •1939. When she turned 22, deceived by a lie that she could get a job in a factory, she got on a ship at Gangguan and was sent to Dalian, China via Busan, and then eventually to the Philippines. For three years in Dalian and another four years in the Philippines, she was forced to be the victim of Japan’s Military Sexual Slavery by the name of Humiko. She suffered hell during that time. •1945. She arrived at Nagasaki harbor by warship around Korea’s independence and returned back to her hometown Tongyeong via Busan again. •2008. She gave her testimony as a victim of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan at the Gyeongnam World Conference for Women's Human Rights. She had interviews with Changwon KBS. •2009. She delivered a Tongyeong citizens’ petition to the president of the Tongyeong City Council. The petition requested the council to adopt a resolution to settle the issue of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan. In addition, she delivered a Geoje citizens’ petition to the president of the Geoje City Council for the council to do so, and she also held a press conference on the issue. •2010. She attended a press conference for the first campaign of sending petition postcards to press the National Diet of Japan to make a law to resolve the issue of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan. •2010. As a representative for Korean sexual slavery victims, she participated in a rally for delivering an international autograph book at the House of Representatives Hall in Tokyo, Japan. She delivered petition postcards, a resolution, and an international autograph book to the personal assistant of Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary and made a public comment on the issue of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan. After that, she took part in a standing protest in front of the hall.

62 | Do Not Forget Me! •2010. She visited the Women's Active Museum (WAM) and participated in a meeting in Tokyo. •2010. In Japan, she attended a testimony rally in Osaka, a network meeting and an exchange meeting in Kansai. •2011. She made a remark as a victim of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan at the 1,000 Tongyeong-Geoje Citizens’ Human Chain of Justice event to celebrate the 1000th Wednesday Demonstration. •2012. She gave an interview to Changwon KBS in commemoration of the Independence Movement Day. •2012. She contributed 20,000,000 won, her entire savings that she had raised with thrift, to Tongyeong Girls High School as a scholarship. •2012. She participated in a press conference for the second campaign of sending petition postcards to urge the Japanese government to fulfill legal duties to settle the issue of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan, had an interview, and made a statement as a victim. •2012. She took part in a press conference to promote the campaign of building a memorial for the victims of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan in order to regain the victims’ damaged reputation and loss of human rights. •2012. When the superintendent of the Gyeongnam Provincial Office of Education visited her, she agreed to the use of her life story for historical education publications and other visual teaching materials. •2012. She participated in “Ten Steps toward Justice for the Victims of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan,” the 10th cultural festival for peace and human rights and was interviewed by the press. •2012. She attended a meeting with the propulsion group of Palisades Park (which included the mayor, the deputy mayor, and the president of the city council), in Bergen County, New Jersey, USA. This group was responsible for setting up a memorial for the victims of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan – the first memorial in the USA. | 63 Articles about Kim Bok-deuk

Her Entire Savings of 20,000,000 Won, “For the Students in This Area to Achieve Their Dreams…” Kim Bok-deuk, the oldest surviving victim of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan, contributes a Justice Scholarship to Tongyeong Girls High School

Ninety-five years old this year, she is the oldest surviving victim of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan and the last survivor in Tongyeong; those are the three phrases that describe Kim Bok-deuk. A tough life for 95 years – she, who moved us to tears with her life story, conveyed a touching story once again. 20,000,000 won is all the money she has saved with only thrift. She decided to donate all of it to the students in the area as a scholarship. The Tongyeong-Geoje Citizens’ Community with the Victims of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan, and the representative Song Do-ja, announced on the 26th, “She wants to contribute the entire money she has collected through her many hardships as a scholarship. This In 1994, she registered with the Korean government as a scholarship helps Tongyeong students who are in economically victim of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan, and after that, she difficult situations realize themselves through academic has actively participated in many activities to get to the bottom achievements.” of the issue. “She is the living evidence of our sad history. I hope that her She took part in the Camp for Human Rights of the Victims valuable will becomes an example in our society and a culture of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan in August 2002. Next year, of donation spreads widely so that children with economic she took the lead in the Special Wednesday Demonstration in difficulties can accomplish their dreams through learning,” she front of the Japanese Embassy in Seoul on September 15 and a added. camp for human rights at Mt. Geumgang in October. The fund, full of her meaningful hope, will be delivered When the investigator of the Amnesty International visited to Tongyeong Girls High School by the name of the Justice Korea in 2005, she was interviewed. Also, she took participation Scholarship. It is intended for the recipients of the livelihood in a testimony rally and an exchange meeting in Nagoya in program, the students from lower income families and child September 2007. heads of household. Moreover, in 2010, she visited Japan with an autograph book The delivery ceremony is going to be held at the president's and petition postcards by half a million citizens in Gyeongnam office of the school on the 30th at 3 P.M. province to urge the National Diet of Japan to establish a law to Kim Bok-deuk was born in Tongyeong in 1918. In 1937, resolve the issue of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan. when she turned 22, fooled by a lie that she could get a job in a Korea Youth Union of Politics and Diplomacy, a club at factory, she left Gangguan in Tongyeong for Busan by ship and Tongyeong Girls High School, has volunteered for events from there, went to China by train. related to the victims of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan in In Dalian, China, and in the Philippines, she was pushed to be Tongyeong and has helped them. the victim of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan and it was hell. The members of the club are expected to attend the delivery She came back to her hometown via Busan by ship after she ceremony. got to Nagasaki harbor by Japanese warship just before the There are currently seven survivors of the victims including liberation. Kim Bok-deuk in Gyeongnam province.

– Reported by Kim Hyun-jin, Hansan Shinmun, April 26, 2012

64 | Do Not Forget Me! 지역의 미래를 생각하는 젊은 신문 요리국비훈련생모집 여성가장 전액무료 교통비 월5만원지급 과목 | 한식 / 양식 / 일식 / 제과·제빵 자격증 취득반

통영조리직업전문학교 646-4379,8840

2011년 12월 16일 금요일 제158호 | www.hanryeotoday.com | [email protected] | 발행·편집인 : 이광호 | 주소 : 경남 통영시 무전동 977-3 | 전화 : (055)644-4082~3 | 팩스 : (055)644-4089

“Grandmother,“할머니, 이젠 No 눈물 Tears 흘리지 Anymore. 마세요. We Are우리가 Here 있잖아요” for You.”

Forming a 10001000명 citizens’ chain,인간띠잇기, hope for 강구안에 a peace memorial‘평화비’ to건립 be built희망 at Gangguan

School.통영·거제에는 They 모두 just 8명이 enjoy 등록 talking됐고, 이 with음뿐입니다”고 us and don't 감개무량했다. let us do any 중errands." 유일한 생존자인 Many 김복득 male 할머니는 students 이 participated송도자 대표는 in “지금 the 할머니들에게event, too. 필요 제Lee 우리나라 Yong-seok, 최고령 생존자가 a first 됐다. grader at Tongyeong한 것은 마음의 안식입니다.High School, 그래서 said, 그림을 "I충렬여고 think 1학년that it's 박지윤 not 양은 fair “역사모라 to be abused그리거나, without 사찰순례, a reason. 꽃나들이, I 온천나들이 can’t 는understand 교내 동아리 how모임에서 it could매주 할머니들을 happen.” 를 주로 다녀요”라고 말했다. 또 “대부분 자 도와드리러Kim Jeong-hwan, 나가요. 그런데 할머니들께서 a teacher of식들이 Tongyeong 없기 때문에 High칠순, 팔순 School, 생일잔치를 는who 우리와 led 이야기 many 나누는 students 걸 즐기시고 to the 별 event챙겨드리죠”라며 said, "I have 미소지었다. had a lot of 다른discussion 심부름은 with 하지 마래요”라고my students 말했다. after I통영에 read 생존해a claim 있던 by이기선 a Korean 할머니가 88 이날student 남학생 studying 참가자들도 in 많았다. Japan 통영고 on the 1 Internet세를 일기로 that 올people 1월 세상을 volunteered 떠났다. 충렬여 학년for 이용석Military 군은 Sexual“이유 없이 Slavery 학대받은 것by Japan.고 2학년 Thinking 이세희 양도 that 매주 students위안부 할머니 이should 억울할 never것 같아요. forget 아무리 the 전쟁 truth 상황이 after들을 they 찾는 are 소녀들 exposed 중 하나다. to 이 issues 양은 “이기 라지만they didn't 지금으로서는 know 현실감이 before, 없어요”라 I made 선my 할머니는 own decision마치 아이처럼 to 순수했던write a분이 일본군Grandmother 위안부 전국 최고령 Deuk-yi, 생존자인 ‘득the country’s쟁을 기억하고 oldest 결의를 survivor다지자는 겁니다”고 of the 고 말했다. 에요”라며 기억을 되살렸다. “하지만 제가 manifesto and take part in this event." 이 할머니’의victims 입가에 of Military잔잔한 미소가 Sexual 흘렀다. Slavery말했다. by Japan, wore a gentle 많은 남학생들을 인솔하고 온 통영고 김 처음 뵀을 때부터 병원에 입원해 계시다가 Choi Yang-hee, the president of the Geoje district of the 김복득smile. 할머니(94)가 일본군에 끌려갔을 엄마와 함께 거제에서 원정 참가한 조희 정환(27) 선생은 “일본에 유학중인 한국학 돌아가셨어요”라며 안타까워 했다. 당시 나이(18세)Kim Bok-deuk, 또래의 어린 94, 남녀학생들 who was흔(거제중앙중3) taken by the 양은Japanese “이번 수요집회가military 생이National 인터넷에 Association 자발적으로 위안부가 of Parents 됐다 for이날 True 전국적으로 Education, 1000번째 gave 수요집회를 a 과 시민들at the 1000여 age 명이of 22, 손에 and 손을 1,000잡았다. citizens1000번째라는 held 것은hands 알고 together. 있었어요. 거제에 In a 고speech 주장한 in것을 a 보고,choked-up 학생들과 토론을voice. 많 "I wonder기리는 많은 what 행사들이 our 열렸고,government 정대협은 후 이른바special ‘정의의 moment, 인간띠’를 만들며the crowd “할머니, shouted, 는 생존해 "Grandmother, 있는 위안부 할머니가 I love 안 계셔서 you. 이has 나눴습니다. done while 아이들이 we ‘몰랐던 have 사실을 cried 알 for 1,000대가 ‘위안부 times. 할머니’들의 What we 고통을 can 잊지do 않 사랑해요.Live 오래오래long and 건강하세요!”를 be healthy!" 외치 as they특별한 formed 행사도 the 없어요. so-called 그래서 통영까지 “Human 왔 고around 나니 잊어서는 them is안 to되겠다’고 try not 생각해 to forget 격 the도록 truth," 하기 위해 she 일본대사관 emphasized. 앞에 평화비를 는 순간,Chain 할머니의 of Justice,” 가슴 아픈 her 과거가 heartbreaking 씻겨 어요”라고 past 말했다. was washed away. 문도“Grandmother 직접 작성하고 스스로 Deuk-yi” 참가 했습니다” who attended제막했다. the event in spite of 간 덕분 Song일까. Do-ja, the representative조 양의 of 엄마는 the Tongyeong-Geoje“이런 행사는 역사와 전통 고the 전했다. chilly weather said, "Honestly,전국 even 최고령자가 if I chewed 된 득이할머니에겐 out the 일 1995년부터Citizens’ 위안부 Community 할머니들과 삶을 with 함 the과는 Victims 다르잖아요. of 보통은 Military 오래 된 Sexual일일수록 Japanese최양희 참교육학부모회 people to relieve 거제지회장은 my resentment,본의 사과와 명예회복을I still wouldn’t 기다릴 시간이 be 없 께 해왔고,Slavery 이번 by 강구안 Japan 인간띠잇기 that has 행사 been 기념하지만,with the victims이런 집회가 since 1000번이나 1995 이어and “1000번의satisfied. 외침동안 However, 나는, 우리 I feel 정부는 moved 무 다.by 그렇다면 the young 우리가 students‘통영의 딸’을 who 위해 할 를 마련한prepared ‘일본군위안부할머니와 the event of 함께하forming진 a 것 human 자체가 비극이죠”라며 chain at Gangguan, 안타까워했다. 얼participated 했나하는 책임감을 in this 느낀다”며 event 목이 today." 메는 수 있는 게 없을까? 는 통영거제시민모임(위안부시민모임)’shouted for joy, "I haven't seen송 her한국정신대문제대책협의회(정대협)에 smile broadly like this." 소리로"What 연설했다. the victims최 지회장은 need “우리가 now 가 is rest통영 and 강구안은 a calm 꽃다운 mind, ‘위안부 so 소녀들’을they 도자 대표도This “이렇게 day is 환하게 the 웃으시는1,000th 걸 anniversary따르면 등록된 위안부피해of the Wednesday 할머니는 모두 까운usually 곳에서 draw 할 수 있는pictures 일은 잊지or visit않도록 temples, 태워 집결지인 gardens 부산으로 or hot-springs 보냈던 비극의 현 처음Demonstration 봤다”고 외쳤다. by the victims234분이고, which 현재 has 65명이 been 생존해 in front있다. 지난 of 노력하는resorts," 일”임을 said 강조했다. the representative Song장이다. Do-ja.이 비극의 "Because현장을 역사의 most 산교육장 이날은the Japanese 1992년1월8일 Embassy 시작된 위안부피 since January달 태국에 8, 거주하던 1992. 노수복(90) "This is 할머니가, not to of제법 them 쌀쌀해진 don't 밤 날씨에도have children, 불구하고 몸 we 으로celebrate 기억하기 their 위해 ‘평화비’를 70th or 세운다면 80th 할 해자 할머니들의 일본대사관 앞 수요집회 이달에는 중국에 거주하던 최고령 생존자 소 행사에 참가한 ‘득이 할머니’는 “솔직히 머니의 한 많은 과거가 조금이라도 줄어들 commemorate, but to remember the struggle and confirm the birthday." 가 1000번째를 맞이하는 날이다. 송 대표 박서운(94) 할머니가 세상을 떠나며 올해 저 일본놈들은 씹어 먹어도 속이 시원치 않 지 않을까. determination,” said the representative Song. Lee Gi-seon who had lived in Tongyeong, passed away 는 “기념하자는 것이 아니죠. 20년간의 투 만 15명의 할머니가 유명을 달리했다. 겠지만, 오늘 어린 학생들을 보니 감사한 마 김숙중 기자 Jo Hee-heun, a third grader at Geoje Jungang Middle School, at the age of 88 this January. Lee Se-hee, a second grader at who came with her mother from Geoje said, "I knew that this Chungryeol Girls High School, is one of the girls who visit Wednesday Demonstration was to be the 1,000th. We don't have the victims every week. She remembered, "Grandmother Lee any special events for it in Geoje because there are no surviving Gi-seon is innocent like a baby. However, she had been in the victims there. That's why I came here." hospital since I met her first and she also passed away in the "This event is different from history and tradition. Usually, hospital," she said with regret. the older, the more we celebrate. However, it is a tragedy that On this day, many events were held nationally to this demonstration has lasted for 1,000 times,” her mother said commemorate the 1,000th Wednesday Demonstration. The regretfully. Korean Council for Women Drafted for Military Sexual Slavery According to the Korean Council for Women Drafted for by Japan unveiled a peace memorial in front of the Embassy of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan, a total of 234 victims are on Japan, hoping for the descendants not to forget the torment of the government list, 65 of whom are alive as of today. Fifteen of the victims of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan. Grandmother them passed away this year, including No Su-bok, 90, who died Deuk-yi, who is the oldest victim in the country, doesn't have in Thailand last month and Park Seo-un, 94, the oldest survivor, enough time to wait for the apology of Japan and rehabilitate in China this month. her damaged reputation. What can we do for the “Daughter of There are eight victims registered with the government in Tongyeong”? Tongyeong and Geoje, and Kim Bok-deuk, the only survivor Gangguan, Tongyeong is a tragic place where the beautiful among them, became the oldest in the country. blooming girls of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan were sent “I am a member of the school club named Meeting of to Busan, a gathering site by ship. Will her deep grudge grow Students Loving History, and we go to help the victims every less and less if we construct a peace memorial to remember this week,” said Park Ji-yun, a first grader at Chungryeol Girls High tragic place as a living educational venue of history?

– Reported by Kim Sook-jung, Hanryeo Today, December 16, 2011 | 65 The Victims of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan Send the Second Petition Postcards.

The victims of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan come forward in the second campaign of sending petition postcards to recover both their damaged reputation and human rights and press the Japanese government to assume legal responsibilities for the issue as soon as possible. The Tongyeong-Geoje Citizens’ Community with the Victims of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan gave a press conference at Tongyeong City Hall on the 20th and announced that they'll launch the second campaign. The community is collecting about 30,000 postcards from the students and the citizens in Tongyeong, Geoje, and other regions from this day to September 20. These postcards are to be sent to the prime minister and government of Japan by airmail after being packed by regional groups. Before sending them, the community is planning to hold an exhibition of the postcards, and the community will select some great postcards and reward the postcard authors at the event for the 10th anniversary of Stepping Toward in the middle of August. Song Do-ja, the representative of the community said, “On August 30, 2011, the Constitutional Court made a turning point in history when it found the Korean government’s nonfeasance to be unconstitutional because they hadn't made efforts to settle the issue of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan. One year later, the Japanese government repeats that the compensation is over by the Treaty on Basic Relations between Korea and Japan. What’s more, Japan has not only tried to avoid its responsibilities for the issue, but has also continuously made thoughtless and inflammatory comments about it,” she added with resentment. “We should call the Japanese government to account for the crimes against humanity that brutally violated the dignity of young girls and women so that such agony shall never be felt again,” she emphasized. Gyeongsang province had the most victims of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan during the Japanese colonial period, and Tongyeong and Geoje are known as the most affected area as a percentage of population. As a result of the first campaign for petition postcards collected from September 16, 2010 to December 22, 2010, the community visited the House of Representatives Hall with 21,085 postcards and delivered them to its members after a rally there.

– Reported by Choi Un-yong, Newsis, June 20, 2012

66 | Do Not Forget Me! “I’ll Teach the Life of the Victims of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan and Our History Rightly.” The superintendent Ko, visits Kim Bok-deuk in the hospital, and makes promises to develop and distribute the teaching materials about Military Sexual Slavery by Japan and teach students to nurture their minds with love for their country.

“I’ll rightly teach students the life of Kim Bok-deuk, the history that shouldn’t be forgotten so that students have a sound sense of history,” Ko Young-jin, the superintendent of the Gyeongnam Provincial Office of Education, announced this after visiting Kim Bok-deuk, the victim of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan, and comforting her in Tongyeong- Seoul Hospital on the 24th. “Please get well again quickly so that you can see the Japanese government truly apologize to you.” Holding her hands firmly, he consoled her. When she burst into tears while talking with him as though the torment of the past was felt again, he cried in his mind as he hugged her warmly. “I’ll make the teaching materials about your life story and teach the students in the province rightly with them,” he promised. The Gyeongnam Provincial Office of Education explained, “When the president Lee Myung-bak visited Dokdo on the 21st, Hashimoto, the mayor of Osaka, Japan made a thoughtless and inflammatory comment, “I would like Korea to provide the evidence that the victims of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan were pulled by the Japanese army’s violence and threat.” The superintendent Ko deeply deplored that Japan distorted the historical truth like this and decided to teach students the issue of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan. The office has a plan to strengthen teaching students to cultivate their mind of loving the country so that students have correct historical awareness about the issues of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan, Dokdo, and so on.

– Reported by Hong Jeong-myeong and Lee Ji-hye, Gyeongnam Shinmun, August 27, 2012

| 67 The Tongyeong-Geoje Citizens’ Community with Kim Bok-deuk

The community was founded on August 15, 2002. Its purpose is to protect and psychologically treat the victims of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan who are from or living in Tongyeong or Geoje, and other nearby regions. The community’s many activities for the victims include these supports: healing them mentally, offering welfare to them, regaining their damaged reputation, educating them, honoring the dead ones, realizing the worth of human rights and peace, and so on.

68 | Do Not Forget Me! Main activities with the victims of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan

● Teaching and giving a speech ● Conducting campaigns to set up a ● Opening classes to draw pictures and museum for the victims of Military make potteries Sexual Slavery by Japan ● Visiting temples ● Carrying on campaigns for the ● Going on picnics Gyeongnam Province Council to ● Going on trips for peace adopt a resolution ● Providing psychological therapies ● Doing activities to let people know ● Providing welfare about the issue through the media ● Holding year-end parties ● Doing activities to exchange with ● Giving parties on birthdays, Parents’ people or communities nationally and Day and Korean traditional holidays internationally ● Conducting campaigns to send ● Having memorial ceremonies for the petition postcards victims of Military Sexual Slavery by ● Carrying on campaigns to build a Japan memorial of justice for the victims of ● Holding cultural festivals for peace Military Sexual Slavery by Japan and human rights

| 69 Petition Postcards to Urge Recovering Kim Bok-deuk’s Impaired Reputation

Dear Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, Hello. I’m honored to write this postcard to you. Needless to say, you have built up a lot of knowledge and experience to be in your position. Therefore, you must know the importance of admitting errors and giving an apology. It’s not possible to cover up faults. Also, it’s not shameful to recognize them. It’s rather mature and sensible to admit them. There is a time to apologize and now is the time. The candles lit by From Kim Bo-ryeong, a second the suffering and hope of the victims of Military grader at Milseong Jeil High School Sexual Slavery by Japan are going out, one by one. I’d like you to offer a true apology to them immediately and show the gentlemanliness of Japan for the world to recognize.

Kim Bo-ryeong, a second grader at Milseong Jeil High School

We don’t have any more time.

You cruelly trampled my life. From Yun Geum-yi, a first grader at What they really want is not money, but Miryang Girls High School a true apology.

Yun Geum-yi, a first grader at Miryang Girls High School

70 | Do Not Forget Me! From Lim Ha-kyeong, a first grader Hurry up 60 seconds in advance for the at Changwon Jungang Girls High 60 victims. School I’d like the prime minister Yoshikiko Noda to give an apology.

Lim Ha-kyeong, a first grader at Changwon Jungang Girls High School

Hello! I’m a 16-year-old girl living in Korea. I know what Japan did to Korean people in the past very well, particularly to the victims of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan. Even though I’m young, I can only imagine how utterly humiliating it is to be sexually abused. I’m sure that Japan will be forgiven if you voluntarily apologize to and compensate them. If you love your country, just consider what the most honorable decision is for From Jang Jin-sol, a third grader at your country. I’m looking forward to Happo Middle School your action.

Jang Jin-sol, a third grader at Happo Middle School

| 71 Letters to Encourage Kim Bok-deuk

Dear Grandmother, Hello, I’m Park Won-ju. I attend Changwon Towol High School. I recently got to know about the victims of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan in class at school. After knowing the truth, I was really angry and resentful. However, it is nothing compared to what you felt at that time, is it? My grandmother is about the same age as you, so I could sympathize with you better. I shall never forget the Japanese brutality. I certainly promise to remember how you were drafted and sexually abused by the Japanese military and let people know about it. I’ll make certain that the Japanese cruelty won’t be forgotten in our history, even after you pass away. Today, I sent a petition postcard to Japan. I requested that the Japanese government admit their errors, offer an official apology, and make a legal compensation, but I know that my postcard won’t change the Japanese attitude easily. Nevertheless, I’ll continue to send petitions. Little strokes fell great oaks, right? You have held a demonstration every Wednesday. I want to help you. I’ll go to see you after I become a university student. Cheer up and stay healthy. Nothing is more important than being healthy. Take care of yourself during the hot summer and I pray that a bright light of hope will shine on you. With best wishes, Park Won-ju

Park Won-ju from Changwon Towol High School

72 | Do Not Forget Me! Dear Grandma, Hello. I’m Lee Su-jin, an eighteen-year-old girl at Changwon Towol High School. Summer is around the corner. Isn’t it hot? I heard your story in yesterday’s class. I have come to know your pain. Take heart! I always support you. I love you, Grandma. All students and teachers in my school strongly believe that the Wednesday Demonstration record will never repeat. Please cheer up and get the apology from Japan. The Japanese did such a bad thing. Don’t forget that we are always behind you. We love you. I wish good health and longevity.

July 12, 2012 Lee Su-jin from Changwon Towol High School

Lee Su-jin from Changwon Towol High School

| 73 Grandma’s tears (Kim Yeah-eun, a third grader of Changwon Towol High School)

74 | Do Not Forget Me! A Victim of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan Kim Bok-deuk's Life Story

About Military Sexual Slavery by Japan

Supplement 2 ● What is Military Sexual Slavery by Japan? ● Historical background of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan

● Life in the comfort station

● The issues

● To live in the world of peace and human

| 75 What Is “Military Sexual Slavery by Japan”?

Military Sexual Slavery by Japan refers to women and girls forced into a prostitution corps created by the Japanese Armed Forces during World War II, specifically between early 1930s until August of 1945 when Japan was defeated in the Pacific War. The term “women’s volunteer corps (Jeong-shin-dae)” was used until early 1990s instead of comfort women. “Volunteer corps” means “corps who voluntarily devoted their bodies to achieve a certain goal.” Jeong-shin- dae was made by the Empire of Japan to mobilize people for the successful conduct of war. It was organized in various fields such as rural volunteer corps, medical volunteer corps, and labor volunteer corps. The mobilization target consisted of both men and women. The Japanese government distorted the main issue by saying that military sexual slaves participated out of their free will like war correspondents or war nurses. They denied the compulsory mobilization.

76 | Do Not Forget Me! Korean relational statute says that women who were forced to be abused as sexual slaves for Japanese soldiers in battle areas are Victims of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan. The term “comfort women” is not appropriate because it is from the point of view of the Japanese army. A Japanese formal standard document at that time, however, used the term “comfort women” as an official term. The use of this term is proof that the Japanese army and government were involved. Since the issue of the Japanese military’s use of comfort women was publicized in the international community, it was newly conceptualized with the term “Military Sexual Slavery by Japan” because women were compulsorily and systematically forced into prostitution by the Japanese army’s comfort station policy. The report by the Human Rights Commission of the United Nations in 1996 and the report by the UN special reporter on human rights in 1998 both stipulated the victims of Japanese Military Sexual Slavery. “Military Sexual Slavery by Japan” is an international term exposing the core issue.

| 77 Historical Background of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan

Japan, which established the emperor system and dreamed continental invasion, plunged into a war to overcome economic crisis in 1929. Starting with the continental invasion with the Manchurian Incident in 1931 and the Sino-Japanese War in 1937, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941 and provoked the Pacific War, which led to the Second World War. At the end of 1937, Sino-Japanese War, Japan massacred civilians and raped women in Nanjing. Confronted with international criticism about it, Japan felt the need to control the sexual problems of the Japanese army.

78 | Do Not Forget Me! As the war was escalated and protracted, the Japanese military realized the necessity of establishing more comfort stations to prevent rape crimes and sexually transmitted diseases. Another purpose of the so-called comfort stations is boosting morale among Japanese soldiers to achieve effective military activities. Women in the comfort stations were inhumanely raped by force and thus became the victims of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan.

| 79 Daily Life in the Comfort Stations

The Japanese army established and managed the comfort stations or delegated to private contractors. Private comfort stations were strictly controlled and supervised by the army. Life in the comfort stations was regulated according to the rule made by the army. The rule specified in detail things such as the number of soldiers and the time that military sexual slaves must serve, service fee, medical checkup against sexually transmitted diseases, sanitation and so on. Comfort stations for the officers and soldiers were divided. Hours of use were also classified according to the ranks – daytime for corporals, evening for sergeants, night for officers. The army either constructed whole new buildings for comfort stations or rented local buildings. Female victims usually lived in the comfort stations and moved to another region or unit under the necessity of the army. Despite the existence of these rules, female victims were sexually abused. When rejecting demands, victims were severely whipped and sometimes even killed. Even though beating the victims was prohibited by rule, soldiers and operators overtly demonstrated this violence. Victims still have wounds and scars from those times and suffer from aftereffects caused by the life in “comfort stations.”

80 | Do Not Forget Me! The Issues

The Military Sexual Slavery by Japan has issues of inequality and suppression where factors of gender, ethnic group races, and class discrimination are complexly entangled. The Military Sexual Slavery by Japan has the issue of gender discrimination. With the double standards originated from a male-oriented patriarchal system, women were mobilized and dehumanized as sexual slaves. By paying a service fee in Japanese Military Yen, Japanese soldiers were made to think that they were using a licensed prostitution. The Japanese army made violence so systematized that soldiers were not even conscious of their own use of violence. The Japanese government insists that it was a commercial activity. The foundation of this argument is the discrimination against women. Another issue of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan is about ethnic groups and race. Koreans were experiencing the Japanese colonial period. Japan mobilized young Korean girls as tools for an aggressive war and even sexual slaves. That is sexual violence by imperialistic colonialism resulting from ethnic suppression and exploitation. Lastly, Military Sexual Slavery by Japan has the issue of class discrimination. Most Korean women brought as sexual slaves by Japan were poor and uneducated rural women of low social status. They were usually induced by promises of work in factories or other sweet talks by Japan.

| 81 To Live in the World of Peace and Human Rights

Victims of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan have continuously demonstrated proof by revealing their sufferings to the world. The international society has urged the Japanese government to implement legal responsibility through adopting the written advice and a resolution to solve the problems of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan. Nonetheless, the Japanese government hasn’t made an apology for any deeds against humanity. Its reckless remarks have caused additional agony to Koreans as well as the victims of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan.

International efforts to address the issues of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan

● In 1996, UN commissions on Human Rights adopted the report of the special reporter Radhike Coomaraswamy on violence against women, and its causes and consequences. ● In 1998, Gay McDougall, a UN Special Reporter, reported on the “Systematic Rape, Sexual Slavery and Slave-like Practices during Armed Conflict.”

82 | Do Not Forget Me! ● December 12, 2000: The Women’s International War Crimes Tribunal on Japan’s Military Sexual Slavery pronounced Emperor of Japan, Hirohito and Japanese government guilty. ● July 30, 2007: the U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution on Military Sexual Slavery by Japan with unanimous approval. The successive adoption of the resolution in the Netherlands, Canada, the Philippines, and the European Parliament. ● October 31, 2008: UN commission on Human Rights recommended Japanese government to implement legal responsibility.

How does the Japanese government handle the issues of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan?

Date Person Remarks Tomiichi Murayama, “No individual compensation. Japanese December 22, the 81st Prime military comfort women policy is not against the 1995 Minister of Japan international law.” Seisuke Okuno, “Comfort women volunteered in a commercial June 5, a member of the activity without any coercion. It was completely 1996 Liberal Democratic unrelated to the Japanese government.” Party Takao Shikamoto, “Containing the comfort women story in the April 12, a professor of textbook is worthless because it’s similar to writing 2001 Gakushǔin University a history of bathroom design.” Shinzǒ Abe, March 1, “There is no evidence on Japanese army’s the Prime Minister of 2007 enforced mobilization of military comfort women.” Japan August 21, Tǒru Hashimoto, “There is no evidence that comfort women were 2012 the Mayor of Osaka pulled by the Japanese army’s violence and city threat.”

| 83 What efforts are made in Gyeongnam to solve the issues of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan? ● Exertion to regain honor and human rights

Date Major Activity Content Organization Fund-raising for the victims of Military Sexual Gyeongnam Citizens’ Community 1997. Slavery by Japan living in China to come back to for Women Drafted by Military their hometown Sexual Slavery by Japan Joint investigation with Korean Jeongshindae Gyeongnam Citizens’ Community March 14, 1998 Institute on the victims of Military Sexual Slavery by for Women Drafted by Military ~ March 23 Japan living in China Sexual Slavery by Japan Tongyeong-Geoje Citizens’ 1997. Movement to find families of surviving victims and Community with the Victims of ~ 1998. solve nationality problem Military Sexual Slavery by Japan Tongyeong-Geoje Citizens’ Community with the Victims of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan Tongyeong-Geoje Citizens’ 2003. ~ Tongyeong-Geoje Citizens’ Community with the Community with the Victims of Victims of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan Military Sexual Slavery by Japan Tongyeong-Geoje Citizens’ 2007. Exchange meeting and testimony rally in Nagoya Community with the Victims of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan Movement for Gyeongnam Province Council to Tongyeong-Geoje Citizens’ 2009. adopt a resolution on Military Sexual Slavery by Community with the Victims of Japan Military Sexual Slavery by Japan Movement to write petition postcards to the National Diet of Japan that urge legislation to solve Tongyeong-Geoje Citizens’ the problem of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan. Community with the Victims of Successful mailing of postcards, resolution, and Military Sexual Slavery by Japan 2010. 500,000 sign-ins to Japan Changwon-Jinhae Citizens’ Exchange meeting and testimony rally meetings in Community with the Victims of Osaka Military Sexual Slavery by Japan 1,000 Tongyeong-Geoje Citizens’ Human Chain Tongyeong-Geoje Citizens’ 2011. of Justice celebrating the 1,000th Wednesday Community with the Victims of Demonstration Military Sexual Slavery by Japan Masan-Changwon-Jinhae Culture festival to regain the victims of Military Citizens’ Community with the Sexual Slavery by Japan’s honor and human rights Victims of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan 2012. Movement to write petition postcards to urge implementation of legal responsibility to regain the Tongyeong-Geoje Citizens’ honor and human rights of the victims of Military Sexual Community with the Victims of Slavery by Japan.(Second) Military Sexual Slavery by Japan

84 | Do Not Forget Me! ● Education and Commemoration

Date Major Activity Content Organization Tongyeong-Geoje Citizens’ Memorial ceremony for the victims of Military Sexual 2003. ~ Community with the Victims of Slavery by Japan Military Sexual Slavery by Japan

Setting up a monument tower for the late victim Committee to build monument 2007. Jeong Seo-un for the late Jeong Seo-un

Movement to set up memorial stone to regain the Tongyeong-Geoje Citizens’ honor and human rights of the victims of Military Community with the Victims of Sexual Slavery by Japan Military Sexual Slavery by Japan Tongyeong-Geoje Citizens’ Community with the Victims of Producing educational materials about life stories of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan surviving victims of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan Gyeongnam Provincial Office of 2012. ~ Education Tongyeong-Geoje Citizens’ Community with the Victims of Movement to construct a Gyeongnam history Military Sexual Slavery by Japan museum for Military Sexual Slavery by Japan Changwon-Jinhae Citizens’ Community with the Victims of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan

Why is it important to solve the issues of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan?

Why is it important to solve the issues of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan? Gender, ethnic and class discriminations are complexly entangled in the issues of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan. It was a crime against humanity and it destroyed happiness rights and women’s dignity. There are still kids and women who are sexually abused in troubled areas in the world.

| 85 We must solve the issues of this horrible history, Military Sexual Slavery by Japan, to restore honor and human rights to the victims. We must sound an alarm for the right awareness of history, so that this kind of crime will never happen again to girls and women. We must do our best for the peace and human rights of all people.

What can we do to solve the issues of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan?

● Learn the history about Military Sexual Slavery by Japan ● Read books about Military Sexual Slavery by Japan ● Send petition postcards to Japanese government ● Send e-mails that urge the implementation of responsibility to Japanese government ● Send letters to Japanese government ● Visit websites about Military Sexual Slavery by Japan ● Visit the history museum about Military Sexual Slavery by Japan ● Visit the memorial stone about Military Sexual Slavery by Japan ● Participate in movements related to Military Sexual Slavery by Japan ● Participating Wednesday Demonstrations held in front of the Embassy of Japan at 12 P.M. every Wednesday

86 | Do Not Forget Me! Do you know the Military Sexual Slavery by Japan? (Jo Yun-jung, a first grader at Changwon Towol High School)

| 87 About the Publication

Grandma Kim Bok-deuk’s narratives are based on her deposition with Tongyeong-Geoje Citizens’ Community with the Victims of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan after a written confidential agreement. This book also refers to a direct interview with her accompanied by the leader of the community, Song Do-ja. Sometimes, questionnaires sent through the leader were used. Since Tongyeong-Geoje Citizens’ Community with the Victims of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan has long been the spokesperson for Grandma Kim Bok-deuk, the writing staff had a number of meetings with this community. The writing staff worked to create an autobiography and teaching-learning materials in Tongyeong from September 15 to November 25, 2012. They met every Wednesday to discuss, supplement, and revise the contents with related data such as recorded tapes, historical materials, internet searching, previously published autobiographies of the victims, etc. The autobiography in this publication is aimed at the level for middle school students. Teaching- learning materials address the issues of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan, divided into two levels: elementary and intermediate.

88 | Do Not Forget Me! References ● Grandma Kim Bok-deuk’s deposition: “Tongyeong-Geoje Citizens’ Community with the Victims of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan” ● Interview with Grandma Kim Bok-deuk: writing staff with Song Do-ja, the leader of Tongyeong- Geoje Citizens Community with the Victims of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan Books ● Lee Suk-tae, Military Sexual Slavery by Japan, Institute for Research in Collaborationist Activities ● House of Sharing, The Historical Museum of Sexual Slavery by the Japanese Military (2002), History Criticism Publication Web sites ● http://www.hermuseum.go.kr ● http://womenandwar.net ● http://dagagagi.org/ Sources of Photographs ● Tongyeong-Geoje Citizens’ Community with the Victims of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan ● Kim Il-ryong, the former director of History Museum of Tongyeong City ● The Historical e-Museum of Sexual Slavery by the Japanese Military (http://hermuseum.go.kr) Sources of Articles ● Hansan Shinmun ● Hanryeo Today ● Newsis ● Gyeongnam Shinmun

A Note on the Copyright of Materials

Materials quoted on this book, including photos, can be only used for educational purpose, and above organizations own the copyright for the materials. | 89 A few things that you need to be aware of when utilizing this book

This book was written by reconstructing the testimony of Kim Bok-deuk, a victim of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan through consultation and editorial supervision. If you have any question about the utilization of this material, please contact to the Secondary Education Division of Gyeonsangnamdo Office of Education (+82-55-268-1165). 90 | Do Not Forget Me! About the Authors

Planning and Management

•Ha Sang-soo (Head of the Secondary Education Division of Gyeongsangnamdo Office of Education) •Lee Do-soo (School Commissioner of the Secondary Education Division of Gyeongsangnamdo Office of Education) •Hwang Won-pan (School Vice-commissioner of the Secondary Education Division of Gyeongsangnamdo Office of Education)

Translation

•Kwak Jong-geun (Vice-principle of Changwon Sapa High School) •Yoon Sung-hee (School Vice-commissioner of Gyeongsangnamdo Gimhae Office of Education) •Lee Sook-kyoung (Teacher of Gimhae Gaya High School) •Ryu Jung-ah (Teacher of Imho Middle School) •Lee Su-jung (Teacher of Changwon Sapa High School) •Jung Eun-young (Teacher of Jangyu High School)

Proofreading

•Laura Cate (Teacher of Gimhae Foreign Language High School)

Supervision

•Park Jung-ae (Member of Korean Association of Women’s History and Professor at Sangmyung University) •Jung Hye-kyoung (Chief of the 2nd Investigation Division of the Commission on Verification and Support for the Victims of Forced Mobilization under Japanese Colonialism of Korea) A Victim of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan Kim Bok-deuk's Life Story

Do Not Forget Me!

Date of Publication January 2014

Publisher Ko Young-jin, School Superintendent of Gyeongsangnam-do

Place of Publication Gyeongsangnamdo Office of Education

Planning & Printing Donga Publishing Company +82-55-246-7271