Son Sook donates earnings as 'Spirits' Homecoming' returns to honor victims

Veteran actress Son Sook donated her entire earnings from the 2016 film "Spirits Homecoming" to aid survivors of Japanese military sex slavery, in preparation for the film's 10th-anniversary re-release. In the movie, Sook portrayed the elderly version of the main character, Young-ok, who survived Japan's wartime sexual exploitation. On August 26, the film is set to be re-released nationwide in an extended cut.

Ahead of the film's return to theaters, 82-year-old Son clarified her decision to forgo her initial appearance fee and donate all her box office bonuses. She stated that because the film holds a deep place in her heart, asking for compensation was never a consideration. Money was never the priority for a project with such profound meaning.

Son remembered the challenging production conditions at the time and praised director Cho Jung-rae for his commitment to completing the movie. The actress expressed deep sorrow over the rapid decline in the number of surviving victims over the past decade. When the original film was released, many of the survivors had passed away, leaving fewer survivors to tell their stories.