International Memorial Day For Comfort Women: Who Was Kim Hak-Sun? The World War II Comfort Woman Survivor Whose Testimony Changed History
August 14 commemorates the day in 1991 when Kim Hak-sun became the first survivor to publicly testify about her harrowing captivity. Kim Hak-sun was a courageous South Korean woman who was the first to publicly reveal that Japan compelled young women into sexual slavery during World War II. These individuals were referred to as "comfort women." International Memorial Day for Comfort Women is…
Kim Hak-sun is remembered on International Memorial Day for Comfort Women, which falls on August 14 each year. This South Korean woman was a courageous survivor of wartime sexual slavery, making her the first to publicly disclose Japan's forced recruitment of young women into this horrific system during World War II. Her testimony on August 14, 1991, paved the way for other survivors to share their stories and prompted the world to confront the atrocities committed during the war.
The day honors the approximately 200,000 women and girls from Korea, China, the Philippines, Taiwan, and other Asian territories who were subjected to sexual violence by the Japanese Imperial Army. The term "comfort women" is used to describe these victims who endured repeated sexual abuse in military brothels, often deceived or forcibly taken from their homes.
By remembering Kim Hak-sun's sacrifice, the international community seeks to ensure that such inexcusable acts are never repeated, promoting human rights, dignity, and justice for all survivors.
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