Born: 1928 (Daegu, South Korea)
Biography:
Lee Yong-soo (Korean: 이용수) is a former comfort woman from South Korea, born on December 13, 1928, in Daegu. She is known for her bravery and perseverance in sharing her painful experiences as a sex slave during World War II under the Imperial Japanese Army. As one of the youngest living comfort women, Lee’s testimony has played a significant role in shedding light on the atrocities committed against thousands of women during this dark period in history.
At the age of sixteen, Lee’s life took a tragic turn when she was forcibly taken and enslaved as a comfort woman. While catching snails with her friend Bunsun near a riverbank, they were captured by a military man. They were transported by train and then transferred to a boat at Anju, bound for a Kamikaze Unit in Hsinchu County, Taiwan. It was on this boat that Lee experienced the horrifying reality of sexual violence for the first time.
Throughout her ordeal, Lee endured unimaginable suffering, often forced to engage in sexual relations with four to five men every day, even while menstruating. The cruelty inflicted upon her extended beyond sexual abuse. She faced electrical torture, beatings, and cuts from a soldier’s knife. To protect herself from further harm, Lee learned to submit to her captors’ demands, hoping to avoid shocks and beatings.
The isolation Lee experienced further compounded her desperate situation. She was separated from other comfort women in her area, leading to increased feelings of loneliness and despair. After the war finally ended and she returned home, Lee found that her family no longer recognized her. The trauma she had endured left her feeling unworthy of marriage and ashamed of her past. Unaware of the extent of this systemic abuse, Lee remained silent for many years.
It wasn’t until June 1992 that Lee found the courage to come forward and testify about her experiences as a comfort woman. Watching the press conference of Kim Hak-sun, another survivor, on TV had a profound impact on Lee, inspiring her to share her story with others. She registered with the Korean government as one of the comfort women, becoming the twenty-ninth woman to testify about her harrowing experiences.
Sharing her testimony gave Lee’s life newfound purpose and meaning. She had previously felt worthless, with nobody acknowledging her suffering. By speaking out, Lee discovered a community of women who had undergone similar ordeals, realizing that she was not alone in her pain. Her bravery and determination to break the silence surrounding the comfort women issue had a significant impact on advancing awareness and seeking justice.
Lee didn’t stop at testifying within her own country. In 2000, she gave a powerful testimony during the Women’s International War Crimes Tribunal on Japan’s Military Sexual Slavery in Tokyo. She later traveled to the United States and shared her story at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. In 2007, Lee testified in front of a United States joint Congressional session, boldly declaring, I am an honorable daughter of Korea; I am not a comfort woman.
Her tireless efforts to shed light on the comfort women issue have garnered international recognition and admiration. Lee’s courageous and unwavering commitment to seeking justice for herself and the countless other victims of sexual slavery during World War II has cemented her as a respected advocate for human rights and a symbol of resilience and strength.
Awards:
– The Order of Civil Merit (South Korea)