Visit Matsumoto

Lee Ok-sun, 90, who lives in North Chungcheong Province, South Korea, was taken to a Japanese military “comfort station” in northern Manchuria at the age of 17. Breaking half a century of “silence,” she and 14 fellow survivors began direct negotiations with the Japanese government in 1994, demanding an apology and individual compensation. She testified about the crimes of the Japanese military and appealed for the restoration of her honor and dignity, visiting Japan repeatedly over a period of three years.Now, in 2015, with many of the protagonists having passed away, does the “resolution” agreed upon by the Japanese and South Korean governments truly answer the questions of those directly affected?

Park Su-nam, who shared in this struggle, weaves together intimate documentation and Ms. Lee’s life story to pass on the silence of these living witnesses to future generations.