Born: 1924 (Jilin, China)
Died: 1997
Biography:
Kim Hak-sun (1924–1997) was a Korean human rights activist who campaigned against sex slavery and wartime sexual violence. She is best known as the first woman in Korea to come forward publicly and testify about her experience as a comfort woman for the Japanese military during World War II. Her courageous actions inspired countless others to speak out and seek justice for the atrocities committed against them.
Kim was born in 1924 in Jilin, China. Her parents had originally resided in Pyongyang, but they were forced to flee to China due to Japanese oppression. Kim’s father was a Korean independence activist who dedicated his life to supporting the independence army. Tragically, he died when Kim was only three months old. After his death, Kim and her mother returned to Pyongyang, where she attended a missionary school.
At the age of 14, Kim’s mother remarried, and she struggled to adjust to her new stepfather. In rebellion, Kim was sent to live with a foster family who trained kisaeng, female entertainers skilled in various forms of performance art. Kim spent two years at the academy, learning dance, song, and pansori, among other things. However, she graduated at the age of 17, unable to obtain a license to work as a kisaeng due to the minimum age requirement of 19.
Tragically, Kim’s life took a dark turn when her foster father took her to China to sell her. In Beijing, they were approached by a Japanese soldier who suspected her foster father of being a spy. As a result, Kim was forcefully abducted by other Japanese soldiers and taken to a comfort station, where she was forced into sexual slavery along with four other Korean women. For four months, she endured unimaginable suffering and abuse.
It was only after four months that Kim managed to escape the comfort station. She returned to South Korea and lived in silence for over 40 years, carrying the pain and trauma of her experiences. However, witnessing the growth of the women’s rights movement in her country inspired her to break her silence and share her story.
In 1991, at the age of 67, Kim came forward and testified about her time as a comfort woman. Her testimony was a powerful and courageous act that shed light on the horrific crimes committed by the Japanese Imperial Army. Her bravery opened the floodgates for hundreds of other women from Korea, China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Indonesia, and the Netherlands to speak out and demand justice.
In December 1991, Kim filed a class-action lawsuit against the Japanese government, seeking reparations for the damages inflicted during the war. Her court case was ongoing until her death in 1997. Kim Hak-sun’s legacy lives on through her bravery and determination to seek justice for herself and other comfort women. Her courage has played a significant role in raising awareness about the issue of wartime sexual violence and advocating for the protection of human rights.