Born: 1926 (Yangsan, Gyeongnam, Korea)
Died: 2019 (Seoul, South Korea)
Biography:
Kim Bok-dong (19 April 1926 – 28 January 2019) was a Korean woman who became a human rights activist that campaigned against sexual slavery and war rape. She was a young woman who was put into sexual slavery by the Japanese Imperial Army; a military that recruited girls between the ages of 10 and 18 years of age from colonized and occupied countries from the 1930s until the end of World War II. From age 14, she was put into comfort stations for eight years across different countries in Asia.
Kim Bok-dong was born in Yangsan, Gyeongnam, Korea in March 1926. She was the fourth of six daughters. Her family was wealthy when she was young. However, later her family struggled economically and faced poverty. As a result, she had to end her education. Bok-dong’s father died when she was eight years old. Her three older sisters married to escape the hard times, but Bok-dong remained at home with her two younger sisters.
Until at age 14~15 in 1941, Kim Bok-dong and her mother were lied to by Japanese authorities. Kim Bok-dong was told that she was to support the war efforts by working in a military clothing factory and would return in three years. If not, her family would be considered traitors. The Japanese authorities did not take Kim Bok-dong away but demanded that her mother sign a document. Her mother could not read so she conceded to the demand, believing that her daughter would work in a factory in Japan.
Instead, she was put into militarized sexual slavery in Japanese occupied territories for eight years, including Guangdong, Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia. Kim Bok-dong had to have sex every day, especially from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays. She attempted to commit suicide with two other girls by alcohol poisoning, but Japanese soldiers found them unconscious. The army took them to the hospital and medics revived them by pumping their stomachs. Ten days later, she woke up.
Her experiences led her to become an activist; advocating the end of war-time sexual violence, anti-imperialism, workers’ rights, and inter-Korean reconciliation. Along with the other comfort women, she made the three-fold demand from the Japanese government: a formal state-level apology, reparations, and correction of Japanese history (including amending Japanese history textbooks to include the truth of the comfort women issue). In addition, Kim Bok-dong herself also supported other comfort women to step forward, and was a spokesperson in the comfort women movement.
Kim Bok-dong dedicated her life to seeking justice and raising awareness about the plight of comfort women. She traveled internationally to share her story and fight for the rights of survivors. Her tireless efforts contributed to greater recognition and understanding of the issue, both within South Korea and on the global stage.
Kim Bok-dong died in Seoul, South Korea, in a hospital on January 28, 2019. Her legacy as a brave activist has left an indelible mark on the fight for human rights, particularly in regards to violence against women during times of conflict. Her determination and strength continue to inspire others in the ongoing battle for justice and equality.
Awards:
– Order of Civil Merit (South Korea, 1995)