In brief
Gil Won-ok, a key figure in the fight against wartime sexual slavery, has died, leaving behind a significant legacy and a continuing call for justice.
Gil Won-ok, a courageous advocate for justice and one of the last survivors of wartime sexual slavery during World War II, passed away this week at her home in Incheon, South Korea, at the age of 96. Her death, confirmed by the South Korean government, marks the loss of a pivotal figure in a long-standing campaign for recognition and reparations for thousands of women, particularly Koreans, who were forced into sexual servitude for Japanese soldiers during the conflict.In her later years, Ms. Gil battled Alzheimer’s disease along with other age-related health issues, yet she remained steadfast in her advocacy, criticizing the Japanese government for its failure to acknowledge and take responsibility for the plight of so-called “comfort women.” Although she passed away without receiving the formal apology and compensation she sought, her spirit lives on in the ongoing legacy of her fight for justice.Since the early 1990s, approximately 240 women have come forward to share their harrowing experiences, but only a handful remain alive today, with an average age of 95. Ms. Gil expressed hope that their descendants would continue the struggle for acknowledgment and redress, stating, “It will not be over with our death.”In South Korea, the stories of these women have become a powerful symbol of the nation’s historical grievances stemming from Japan’s colonial rule from 1910 to 1945. On the occasion of her funeral, numerous politicians and officials attended or sent tributes in recognition of her contributions. Ms. Gil’s passionate plea for justice for all comfort women underscores the resilience of their fight, representing a plea for hope, acknowledgment, and resolution for past atrocities.
