In brief
Despite her passing, the fight for acknowledgment and reparations continues.
Gil Won-ok, a renowned activist and one of the last surviving victims of wartime sexual slavery, passed away at the age of 96 at her home in Incheon, South Korea. Her death, confirmed by government officials, took place on Sunday. The cause has not been disclosed, but reports indicate that she struggled with Alzheimer's and several age-related health issues in her later years.Ms. Gil was a prominent figure in the enduring struggle for justice related to the "comfort women" — a term used for women, notably Korean, who were forced into sexual exploitation by Japanese soldiers during World War II. Throughout her life, she maintained a relentless campaign aimed at securing formal apologies and reparations from the Japanese government, which she held accountable for the atrocities committed against thousands of women.Despite the immense societal stigma, approximately 240 South Korean women had the courage to share their stories of abuse when the government began to accept registrations for victims in the early 1990s. As of now, only seven of these women remain alive, their average age being 95. Ms. Gil famously stated, "They are wrong if they think it will be over when the last of us die," emphasizing her hope that future generations would continue the fight for justice.In South Korea, comfort women have become poignant symbols of the country's suffering under Japanese colonization from 1910 to 1945, and their quest for recognition and justice remains a pivotal national issue. Many politicians and government officials attended Ms. Gil's funeral service or sent tributes, illustrating the significant impact she had on the collective consciousness surrounding this painful chapter in history.
