Kim Bok-Dong
South Korea, (1926–2019)
Kim Bok-Dong was a dedicated human rights activist fighting against sexual slavery and war rape. From the age of 14, she was forced into comfort stations across various Asian countries by the Japanese Imperial Army. Her harrowing experience with sexual slavery prompted her to advocate for not only end of war-time sexual violence, but also demand the Japanese government to give a formal state-level apology, legal reparations, and correction of Japanese history. Notably, Kim Bok-Dong was a key spokesperson in the “comfort women” movement and supported other comfort women to speak out.
Kim, at the age of 14, was told to work in a military clothing factory by Japanese authorities to support the war effort. Instead, Kim was placed into militarized sexual slavery for eight years in Japanese occupied territories like Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia.
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In 1992, Kim opened up her experience to the public and started to participate in the Wednesday Demonstration, a weekly protest held in front of the Japanese Embassy in Korea. A year later, Kim attended and testified at the “World Human Rights Conference” in Austria, as well as in numerous other events.
Kim Bok-Dong, left, and Gil Won-Ok, at a demonstration in front of the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, South Korea, in 2016.
The Butterfly Fund
The Butterfly Fund was founded in 2012 by Kim Bok-Dong and Gil Won-Ok in an effort to not only stand in solidarity with other “comfort women,” but also to help all victims of sexual violence in armed conflicts around the world. The money has aided war-time rape victims ranging from Vietnamese women to groups in the Congo. Now, the yellow butterfly is a recurring symbol of hope that all women suffering from sexual violence in armed conflicts would be able to spread their wings free from discrimination, repression, and violence.
Artwork
In addition to verbally sharing her stories, Kim also expressed her story through art. Her various artwork on themes like childhood memories and the experience of Japanese military slavery were included in campaigns to raise awareness and educate the global public on the “comfort women” issue.
Legacy
The Kim Bok-Dong Peace Prize was formed in 2017 to stand in solidarity with the victims of sexual violence in conflict and to work relentlessly to resolve the Japanese military “comfort women” issue.