In brief
Gil Won-ok's legacy persists as a reminder of wartime injustices faced by women during the Japanese occupation.
Gil Won-ok, a prominent figure in the fight for recognition and reparations for wartime sexual slavery, passed away at the age of 96 this week in her home in Incheon, South Korea. The South Korean government confirmed the news, although details surrounding the cause of her death were not disclosed. In her later years, Ms. Gil battled Alzheimer's and various other age-related health issues. Throughout her life, Ms. Gil remained unyielding in her criticism of the Japanese government, accusing it of neglecting its legal and moral obligations towards the victims of wartime sexual slavery, known as "comfort women." Despite her passing, she had expressed confidence that the quest for justice would endure beyond her lifetime. Since the 1990s, around 240 South Korean women have come forward to recount their distressing experiences as comfort women, yet only seven remain alive today, with an average age of 95. Ms. Gil famously stated in 2013, "They are wrong if they think it will be over when the last of us die." These women symbolize Korea's suffering during the Japanese colonial rule from 1910 to 1945 and continue to push for historical justice. Following her death, numerous politicians and senior officials attended her funeral or sent condolences, honoring her pivotal role in raising awareness and advocating for victims of wartime atrocities.
