True Stories of the Korean Comfort Women

by Korean Council for Women Drafted for Military Sexual Slavery by Japan, Young Joo Lee (Translator)

Between 100,000 and 200,000 women were forced into sexual slavery by the Japanese military between the early 1930s and 1945. Yet successive post-war Japanese governments have refused to acknowledge what took place and no reparations have been made to the mainly Korean victims. Recent developments in human rights and women's rights in Korea have led to the surviving Comfort Women to overcome traditional taboos of chastity, defilement and shame to speak out for the first time. This book contains 19 exclusive first-hand testimonies from surviving Comfort Women, which portray the coercion, violence, abduction, rape and false imprisonment they suffered at the hands of the Japanese military. The Comfort Women's stories were originally published in Korean by the Korean Council for the Women Drafted for Military Sexual Slavery by Japan (formed in 1990 to campaign for recognition and reparation for the surviving Comfort Women).

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Memoir, World War II, Historical, Japan

224 pages, Paperback

First published October 12, 1996

Reviews

[Jaclynn (JackieReadsAlot) · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the first books ever written about the sexual slavery of Korean women, this is a difficult read. The way these women, girls really when it happened, were treated is repulsive in every way. How very brave they are to have told their stories, and their stories need to be heard.

[Melody Schwarting · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is no single healthy part in my body. I hurt everywhere. There was a time when I suffered severe insomnia. But since I have poured out my life story to you I feel much more easy. I will be able to sleep and eat much better. Until last year, when I was first encouraged by a friend from my days at the school for entertainment girls to register with the Council, I kept my life in China to myself. I was so ashamed of what had happened that I did not want to let other people know anything about it. So I told people what had happened sparingly. Now that everyone knows the story, however, I feel I have nothing to fear. So, now I have told you everything about myself, I can rest easily. (Mun Ochku, p. 114)

One of the first volumes of eyewitness accounts of the "comfort women." Japan still has issues with truth-telling about the past, and accounts like this are essential for history and justice. Every single one of the women who shared her story here suffered long-term physical, mental, and emotional damage from the exploitation she suffered at the hands of the Japanese military. Not a single one was able to live the rest of her life like she wanted. These testimonies are only from the women who came forward to tell their stories. Many women refused to admit anything.

A few additional resources, like maps, would have been appreciated. Additional historical and legal context is provided before and after the accounts.

[Savada · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book was very helpful.

[Avery Mead · Rating 5 out of 5]

The stories shared in this book are important and I appreciated being able to take in their stories relatively unfiltered. However, it is an incredibly difficult and painful topic. It took me a very long time to read this book because of how intense the stories were. I believe it's important to bear witness to survivors' stories. But, I do caution other readers, especially fellow sexual abuse/assault survivors. Take care.

[Mary Havens · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was recently reminded that I read a book like this (don't remember the exact title but I do remember lots of first person accounts and the library where I checked it out. I used that library catalog to try to pin down a possible title).
The atrocities of war are never only good vs. evil, ally vs. enemy. Lots of innocent bystanders are forced to endure unimaginable things to survive. This book tells of such people; Korean women forced into prostitution by the Japanese military to "service" their soldiers.
It's a devastating read but it's important to know these stories less they repeat themselves.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

After detailing the statistics of Korean Women used as Comfort Women, personal stories of some of the living women that have come forward to tell of their suffering and lives that were ruined because they were drafted, coerced or forced to be used as Comfort Women.

[Carolyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very hard read. The events recorded in the personal stories left me sick to my stomach, but I forced myself to read every detail. These stories cannot be forgotten and wiped away. These women deserve to be heard and help the world never to commit such atrocities again.

[Livia Blackburne · Rating 4 out of 5]

As you might guess, not an easy read. But it's a story that needs to be heard. Things like this still happen to real people every day.